BRITISH CUSTOMS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 22, 21 October 1907, Page 10

BRITISH CUSTOMS.

■GROWTH OF SMUGGLING. , The fifty-first report of the Commissioners of British Customs shows that the Customs revenuo collected in the year ended March 31 last amounted to £34,542,133, exclusive o the sums collected on account of the Isle of Alan revenue and on local taxation account. The net revenue, aftor drawbacks and ropaymonts have been deducted, amounted to £32,894,636, which is £664,tW6, or 2.6 por cent., more tnan the Budget estimato for the year, and £1,590,184, or 4.6 per cent, less than the net yield for 1905-6. ■ As to smuggling, tho report states that the number of detected attempts to smuggle dutiable goods during tho past financial year . was/the.largest recorded since 1894-5, but tho quantities of tobacco, cigars, and spirits seized in 1006-7 were loss than in the preceding year, although-there was a considerable increase in tho number of seizures and of persons fined, duo partly to tho more numerous detections.of cases of illegal landing of small quantities of tobacco at naval ports. Tho seizures mado in tho past twelve months included IIMSIb. of tobacco and cigars, forming part of a.i«rgo of contraband goods on the Dutch cooper Maria, which- was capturod by H.M.S. Argus inside tho three-mile limit off the Huir.ber, and confiscated to. gethcr .with her cargo. Seizures of 6991b. and 1461b. of tolacco and of 1391b. of cigarettes were a:so made on vessols at lilyth, Hull, and Portsmouth respectively. There wore two seizures of illegally imported saccharin—viz., 2001b. and 1271b.—in the course of the past year. The larger quantity was seized in London by officers of Inland Uovcnuo. [n tho other case the saccharin (1271b.), which was reported as "private effects," b ; it was said to be intended for transhipment to Denmark, was seined on abandonment in lioa of compliance with tho conditions of rolesuie imposed. The sound portion of tho tobacco seized was forwarded, in accordanco with "he usual practice, to tho :riminsl lunatic asjlums for consumption by the inmates, while Chat unfit for human consumption, but useful for fumigating purposes, was sent to tho Botanic Gardens at liew and -Edinburgh.