PURSER FINED

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 19, 22 July 1932, Page 8

PURSER FINED

importation;: of silver

PLEA OF IGNORANCE

(By, Telegraph.—Press Association;)

AUCKLAND, 21st July.

: The'',.purser/;of the: Huddart-Parker steamer Ze'alandia, John Connolly \Vilson, appeared in tVe Police-Court this afternoon charged with importing into New Zealand on Tuesday last silver of Australian coinage totho value of £32, contrary to the'; provisions' of the coined silver regulations, 1931, and1 ■ the Finance Act, 1931.: Wilson pleaded 'guilty. ■;";•-■■-. ■-■■..'■■■--.■'■ ■:■-::;.-•■■-.:--::■,:--'..'

Tho Crown Solicitor, appearing on behalf of tho Collector of Customs, who laid the information, said that the importation of silver in larger* amounts than £2 was prohibited. On Tuesday, after tho Zealandia arrived from Sydney, a Customs officer .stopped the accused as ho was walking an ay from the ship and found £32 in silver in his possession. Tho silver was'iin an envelopo addressed to the HuddartParker Company at' Auckland. When questioned,' Wilson at first said tho package contained £20, then £29, and finally he said it 'contained £32, which was correct. He explained that tho money was for tho Shipwreck Relief Society, and that ho was taking it to his office for that purpose." Of the £32, £20 had been collected on board the Ulimaroa, and had been handed to him by tho accountant of the Sydney branch of the' conipany; the balance had beeu collected ou board the Zealandia during the last six retura trips. "The Customs Department has some difficulty in-.believing this explanation, as the previous purser had handed in sums of £8 and £5, the last .being in April," said the Crown Solicitor, "Tho sudden increase in amounts is rather extraordinary. The last purser asked permission to bring ashore £5 in' silver, and the request was granted. It" seems peculiar that'the accused should not have made similar application. The £32 is liable to confiscation." ACCUSED'S EXPLANATION. "Wilson explained his position to the Magistrate, and pleaded ignorance of the regulations. He carried tho packet under his arm as he left the ship, and it was'among tho ship's'manifest and Visible to anybody. Of the sum, £20 had been handed to him by the Sydney office to be brought to the local office: the balanco was tho result of collections for six trips. He received £20 in notes, and these ho changed into silver in order that the Shipwreck Society would not lose, by .tho exchange. _ Mr. McKean: "Is .there anything inside the package besides silver to say what it is fors"—"No, sir." "Is any receipt given for tho money collected from passengersf"—"No. I put up a notice on the ship's notice board." The Crown Solicitor: "Did not'the Customs officer tell you that all the silver on the search list was to be doclared?"—"Yes, but I had no'idea of the procedure. I have not been on this run long." , . , . The Magistrate said he must accept tho accused's statement that ho got £20 from tho Sydney office. However, it appeared rather peculiar that a purser should not be aware of tho regulations.

"If I thought you were importing silver to benefit yourself I would impose a severe penalty," ho told Wilson. "All tho Bamo,' I don't fpel entirely satisfied, and I think further inquiries should be made concerning tho ownership of this money. You have- committed an- offence, but I will not impose a heavy penalty. You are' fined £.2 and costs &2 125."-

The silver was' ordered to bo con fiscaled.