SMUGGLED RADIO SET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 194, 18 August 1933, Page 8

SMUGGLED RADIO SET.

FORFEITURE ORDERED. FIXE OF £25 IMPOSED. A charge of smuggling.a wireless set valued at £20, on August 10, 1931, contrary to section 207 of the Customs Act, 1931, was brought against Humphrey Owen Stevens, of Mount Albert, in the Police Court this morning, before Mr. W. R. McKcan, S.M.

Defendant, who appeared on summons and was represented by Mr. Bagnall, pleaded guilty.

The Collector of Customs, Mr. J. Mcintosh, said that as the result of information received in his office, he interviewed defendant. Stevens admitted that he got a six-value radio set from a Vancouver steamer in Auckland and took it to Mount Albert to test it. He said further that he became careless about paying duty on the machine and did not think any more about the matter. The amount of duty payable was £0 8/S. The maximum fine for. the offence was £100, and the minimum fine £25, plus the forfeiture of the goods. Mr. Bagnall said defendant brought the set ashore to try it out. If he found it satisfactory he was to buy it. The set was not satisfactory and it was taken to a workshop to be adjusted. After the adjustment, Stevens bought it. Tho rest of what Mr. Mcintosh had said was correct. "The meaning of the word 'smuggling' is to retain to defraud the revenue," said Mr. Bagnall. "My client had no intention of defrauding the revenue. I would have entered- a plea of not guilty in this case, were it not for section 228 of the Customs Act, j which says that absence of intent to! defraud the Customs is no defence at ali, | although it is the substance of the char l . Defendant has been employed by tho Union Steam Ship Company for 40 years and is well known on the waterfront, and there has never been anything brought against him in the past. He has a most honourable 'record."

Counsel asked that defendant's name be suppressed.

The magistrate said ho had no power to make an order for suppression. He must be convicted, and the set involved would have to be forfeited.

Stevens was fined , the minimum penalty, £25; plus 10/ costs.