GOODS SMUGGLED INTO DOMINION

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 283, 24 August 1940, Page 18

GOODS SMUGGLED INTO DOMINION

Woman Pleads Guilty MINIM UDI PENALTY OF £25 IMPOSED Pleading guilty in the Magistrates’ Court. Wellington, yesterday, to a charge of smuggling into New Zealand furs made up into apparel, drapery’, an electric toaster. :l clock, and three floor rugs, of a total value of £5O, Betty Diamond, married woman, Christchurch, was fined £25. the minimum penalty under the Act, by Mr. Stout. S.M. She was allowed one month in which to pay the tine.

The Collector of Customs ar. Wellington, Mr. R. J. Gray, told the Court that defendant, after a recent visit to Sydney, 'brought back a lot of new goods and on arrival at Wellington handed in a written declaration showing that she had only 10/- worth of goods. A search of her baggage revealed other articles valued at £5O. The duty payable on them was just over £2O. The goods were forfeited, but could be obtained again on application to the Customs Department, and payment of duty. Mr. C. H. Arndt, who appeared for defendant, said -the principal articles mentioned in the charge were two fur coats and two fur necklets. The value of the other articles would not total more than £5. Defendant -said she had worn the furs and if that were true they would not be dutiable, but in such prosecutions the onus of proof was on defendant. In the circumstances, Mr. Arndt said, he had been compelled to advise his client to plead guilty. Replying to a question by the magistrate, Sir. Gray said there was no suggestion that defendant had smuggled other goods into the country previously.