FIFTY POUND FINE

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 275, 16 August 1932, Page 10

FIFTY POUND FINE

Confiscated Gold Bar ZEALANDIA INCIDENT Metal to be Returned EVASION THAT FAILED — . t ■' The bar of gold valued at £175, which was seized from two passengers about to leave for Sydney by the steamer Zealandlc on August o, will probably be returned to the owners in the near future, but the Customs Department, with the concurrence of the acting-Mnuster of Customs, Kt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, has imposed a fine of £5O. Had the export duty been paid on the gold instead of an attempt .being made to smuggle it out of the country, the owners would have parted with only £4 and thus saved £46. A man and his wife who were found in possession of the gold shortly before the Zealandlc sailed, remained behind bn August 5 in view of the fact that the bar was confiscated by the Customs Department. It was found that an attempt was being made to take the gold out of the country without duty being paid on it in-accordance with the Gold Duties Act. There is a duty on the export of gold from the North Island of 2/6 an ounce, and this must be paid through the Customs Department before any gold can be exported. The penalty for attempting to evade the payment of duty is the confiscation of the gold or a fine up |o £5OO, at the ' discretion of the Minister of Customs. It was stated officially yesterday that in the event of any future attempts to export gold Illegally being discovered, very substantial penalties will be imposed by the Government.