New Interpretation Of Customs Duty

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31052, 6 May 1966, Page 1

New Interpretation Of Customs Duty

(Neto Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 5. Passengers on aircraft to New Zealand will now be allowed to bring in their transistor radios and other items, purchased at the Sydney duty free shop without payment of duty—if such articles are not contained in a wrapper and have been used, if only briefly, either on the tarmac or inside the plane.

Previously, people bringing radios through such a channel were charged full duty and sales tax and a number of complaints have been re-

ceived by the department. They alleged that the sales of such goods, as to the payment of duty on arrival at a New Zealand airport had been misrepresented.

A senior Customs official said today that the action of allowing the radios and other goods into the country by air travellers was through a “new interpretation of the regulations."

Portable television sets, however, are not included. Asked if any proof was required as to whether the radios and other articles had been used only briefly, the official said that the travellers’ word would be taken. A film, however, would have to be in a camera and no cases or wrapping around radio or binoculars. Anyone who brought in goods still in their original containers was simply advertising the fact they had not been used and would be charged the full duty and sales tax, he said.