No duty paid on gifts?

Press, 18 November 1981, Page 1

No duty paid on gifts?

Customs officials believe there nas been no duty paid on gifts of diamond cufflinks and necklaces given to New Zealand Rugby Union; councillors and their wives jby the South African Rugby Board. Mr Robin Dare, a chief customs officer in the enforcement division of the department, said yesterday that his officers had not yet established who had imported the gifts and therefore was liable for the duty and tax. but it appeared the duty had not been paid, the Press Association reported. “My investigating officers have interviewed three members of the, council in an effort to establish who imported the goods and whether the duty has been paid,” he said. “None of the councillors was able to help us,” he said. Dr Danie Craven, president of the South African Rugby Board, would not. comment on whether duty had been paid or oh any subject relating to the gifts when telephoned in South Africa by “The Press" last evening.

When asked aboui the value of the gifts or whether any gifts had been presented to members of the police he again answered, “No comment.” He said the reason he declined to make any comment on the gifts was because “journalism has reached a low level when it stoops to ask such questions.” Mr Dare said one pair of cufflinks and a necklace had been borrowed and would be sent to Auckland for an independent valuation. The department would then assess the amount of duty payable on the items. It it was found that duty was payable, Mr Dare said, the amount would become a Crown debt which the department would be bound to collect. In that case the department would “approach the people . who .. presently hold the goods” in an. effort to retrieve the debt. The councillors would then have to choose between paying the duty and tax or forfeiting the goods to the department.