Sir - I have read most carefully Mr Nathan Hals' letter in P. from A. for March 1961 and also his article written jointly with Mr James Crompton in Stamp Collecting (24 February and 3 March 1961).

As a result I have not been able to find any evidence or statement of fact that would lead me to revise the conclusions I reached in my article in P. from A. for September 1960.
While I appreciate Mr Hals' kind remarks and do not mind him smiling at my expense I am still at loss to know what facts produced the smile!

I am still waiting for documentary evidence that the locals served any true postal purpose. I would also welcome Mr Hals' explanation of the many genuine commercial (i.e., non-philatelic) letters that were carried without any of the local stamps. Yours. etc., Hamilton Croaker, F.R.P.S I.