Islands' Stamps

Angry Protests

Over Cook

By a staff writer

Hundreds of stamp dealers o collectors in New Zealand and A tralia who sent money to the Co Islands Philatelic Bureau for a set\ Christmas stamps released i November have yet to receive stamps or their money back.

MANY people spoken to by P c have not received acknowles ment of their order or answers ; second and third letters they ha written.

A group of 70 Auckland star collectors have asked the !

Minister for Island Territories, I J. R. Hanan, to investigate.

The Premier of the Cook Islam Mr. Albert Henry, said the stam had sold out before his Governmr became aware the demand for the had not been satisfied.

The Wellington Evening Post ported Mr. Henry as giving assurance that all money recehi would be refunded in full unless people had received stamps.

One Sydney stamp dealer, Mr.

F. Webb, said he had sent $3O IT year to the Cook Islands Philate; Bureau for the stamps. “I have got a word or my money back sino he said. “It’s shocking. The Co Islands will have a black name II Tonga soon”.

Mr. Webb said the Austral;!

Stamp Dealers’ Association had be< told by the Cook Islands Philate; Bureau that 5,000 refunds had be made.

Mr. R. W. Hornadge, editor Stamp News in Australia, said 1 Cook Islands had lost a lot of go«( will in stamp circles by its bunglhi He said the set of Christnn stamps was on sale in Australia j April at three times their face val'l in only unused varieties.

A 7,050-mile South-east A/ Commonwealth Cable, linking mas South-east Asia cities by telepho with Sydney through Guam, Madas and Cairns, was opened on Man 30. It cost SAS9 m.

Territorians living near Madm; may speak to Sydney after onlyy minute’s delay—but the rest of P-M won’t have the advantage of t new service, and this has causi criticism.