GOING THROUGH THE CUSTOMS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 47, 19 November 1925, Page 10

GOING THROUGH THE CUSTOMS

WHEN A HOME LINER ARRIVES “There is no doubt about it, it is a harassing business this going through the Customs!” said a much-travelled ". passenger from England by the lonic yesterday, as he wiped the perspiration y from his brow, keeping a sharp eye on the truck loads of luggage that were being run into the shed. "I wouldn’t mind it so much if the process were the same the world over. Then one would know what to expect, and be ready, for it.' I think an International Customs Congress would make it a lot easier for travellers.” “It’s'never the same in two places, you know,” continued the travell/r, after a few words with a Cxistoms official. “There are some places I go to that I never have to show up at all, and then, at others, they want to see everything—even to the bottom of your - toothbrush case.' In some places they take a man’s word that he is not a smuggler; in other places your word doesn’t count a straw. In some places they are polite to the point of sweetness; in others you are regarded as an expert diamond smuggler before you leave the gangway. "On the whole, New Zealand is not bo bad. If you a#e not in a blazing Hurry the officers treat you decently, and if thev do open one out of every three or four packages, well, .they’re welcome to. Anyway, it?'- their duty. In Australia they don’t worry much unless it is diamonds or opium. What does it matter if a woman comes back witli twentv dresses instead of the ten she left with? It’s too small a thing to worry about. In any case, she has probably worn them all, and will want others in a month or two.” With that the traveller resumed pourparlers with a Customs officer, presented his red slip as a check that he had so many packages of luggage, described so and so, and as these were examined and passed each one was ticked off, and one of the shipping company’s clerks stood by to give a white slip as a clearance for each package. When these were all made out and signed by the owner, the luggage was removed from the shed by Harbour Board men and handed over to a carrier (who was not allowed in the shed). The process is a little tedious, but it has been found to be effective. At one time carriers were allowed in the sheds to remove luggage which had been cleared, but there were occasions when they removed it so effectively that the owner never saw it again, which brought about the present check system, which, on the whole, works very well. i