-2-
above we find that since 1967 when the Associated States dambe into being the governments of those states took over responsibility for their financial affairs, consequently it would be difficult for us to seek information on their postage stamp sales without arrearing to be interfering in internal matters.
4.
We are thus left with the following rexx territories at which we can take a close look:
5.
British Virgin Islands
Turks & Caicos Is.
-
IGPC have a contract for stamp sales only, see the papers flagged on YFP. 205/485/1 of
1977, and it is too soon for results to be shown.
The Govt. was on point of signing an agreement with Urch Harris but must have withdrawn at the last moment, see No.16 on YFP. 205/487/1 of 1977. The contract has gone to IGPC, presumably w.e.f.September 1977.
Available figures of stamp sales are:
1973: J. $169,474
1974: $109.678
1975:
1976:
Montserrat
Tuvalu
$ 87,664 $166,731
CA's
Government draw up stamp programme with Urch Harris, and Crown Agents are brought in to do the designing and printing. This arrangement seems to exist from 1977. Previous figures for period when the
Crown Agents were in charge are as follows:-
Also attached is the
1973
-
1974
1975
www.
EC.. 433, 139.75
EC.%. 274,133.88(Philatelic sales only) EC.
1976 EC.
222,592.45 264,550.77
Came into being as separate territory on 1 January 1976 since when Urch Harris has been in complete charge. Tuvalu's Postal Adviser is an U.H.man. The following figures are available:
1976 A. 8.127,840 (Actual)
1977 - A.8.208,000 (revised estimate) 1978 A. 160,000 (approved estimate)
It is not possible to compare with the Crown Agents' results prior to 1.1.76 since the figures will be for the former
Gilbert & Ellice Is.'colony.
1975 file (YFP.8/492/1) showing efforts made by Urch Harris to get into the Falkland Islands: as you will see they did not succeed. Mr Sims comments on the operations of Urch Harris may be seen at No.5 of this file. We are told that U. H. tactics take on a similar pattern: approach is made for the territory to set up its own philatelic corporation with U. H. help; the territory should then cancel the C. A's Sales contract and pass it to U.H. but they leave C. A's with the chores of detailed designs and printing arrangements and having no say at all in programming. U. H. are then well placed to gain complete control of a territory's stamps under cover of the good reputation of the Crown Agents who still arrange design and securityng rrinting.