ILLEGAL IMPORTS OF CARS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27434, 21 August 1954, Page 6

ILLEGAL IMPORTS OF CARS

FOUR VEHICLES HELD • FORFEIT

JUDGMENT AGAINST MOTOR DEALER (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 21. Four Buick cars which the Crown alleged were illegally imported from America were today held to have been imported in breach of the Customs Act and were ordered to be condemned as forfeited. Judgment was delivered in the Supreme Court today by Mr Justice Hutchison, who held that the declarations by which the can were allowed into the country without a licence and free of duty were false. The action was brought by the Crown, seeking the condemnation of the cars. The defendants were Harold Counsell, motor dealer, of Lower Hutt (Mr R. E. Harding) and Mackay Motors, Ltd. (Mr eTF. Page). Mr W. R. Birks appeared for the Crown. On September 2, 1952. four Buick cars were imported into New Zealand from America, according to the Crown’s ease. Two were in the name of Henry and two in the name of William Bates Moore. The Crown alleged that false declarations were made by which the cars were admitted free of duty and licence. They were seized bv the Collector of Customs early in 1953. His Honour held that Mackay Motors, who had purchased one of the cars, had no part in its importation and was the inpocent victim of circumstances, as was accepted by the Crown. He recommended that the Crown S've consideration to the position of ackay Motors. They had paid £2600 in cash and in the value of two cars traded in. The value of the car. subject to its present condition, was estimated now at £2400. The company had taken precautions it thought proper, including a solicitor’s assurance that there would be no trouble •bout the purchase.