Cook Islands Stamps
p. 34 · Read in the full issue
Delay Explained
The Philatelic Bureau at Rarotonga in April explained and apologised to the numerous overseas stamp dealers and collectors who had not received the Cook Islands Christmas stamps they had ordered nor their money back (PIAA, April, p. 8).
The bureau said reasons for delays in filling orders were: The disruption of normal air services to the Cook Islands, infrequent shipping services, the "unexpected, ever-growing, over whelming international demand" for Cook Islands stamps, the necessity to deposit foreign exchange in an Auckland bank because of the lack of banking facilities in Rarotonga, shortage of staff, and the delayed arrival in Rarotonga of some of the Christmas stamps.
It added that million stamps had been shipped out in the past three months.