CAMEOS AND CUSTOMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 July 1923, Page 6

CAMEOS AND CUSTOMS

A SMUGGLING CHARGE (Per Press Aseociation. 1 WELLLNGTON, .July 22. An interesting case was that of an -valian fisherman, Francesco Cataldo, charged with smuggling 200 cameos into New Zealand, and unshipping them here without a permit. It was heard before Mr. E. Page, S.M. The Crown Prosecutor, P. S. K. Macassay, conducted the prosecution. Defendant was represented by Mr. J. S. Hanna. Mr. Macassay said the defendant had arrived in New Zealand from Italy on June 6, 1921, and had 200 cameos in his possession, 104 of which he sold to a local jeweller, S. G. Ross. The case was then brought under notice of the Customs. The greater number of the cameos were recovered. Basil Warring, Clerk at the Customs Office, gave evidence that the Customs Duties Act, 1908, imposed a duty on all goods imported, with certain exceptions. On various fancy goods the duty was 30 per cent. Cameos were classed as fancy goods, and this had been the case for the past 15 years. According to the Finance Act, 1915, a duty of 1 per cent, was due on all goods imported into New Zealand. In June, 1923, the Minister definitely stated that cameos made of shell were fancy goods. •Mr McLaurin (Collector of Customs) said cameos were classed as fancy goods by the head office in 1882. Duty had been paid on cameos in the past 40 years. A purchaser of the cameos said she had no idea at the time of the purchase that the goods had not been through the Customs .

Defendant said he purchased the stones from a boat which came alongside the steamer at Naples. Decision was reserved.