OLD CIGARETTES

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 March 1946, Page 4

OLD CIGARETTES

PURSER FINED FOR SMUGGLING COURT’S MISGIVING (P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 21. A charge of smuggling 40,000 American cigarettes into New Zealand was preferred against two members of the crew of the s.s. Louis Sloss to-day. One man was further charged with making a customs declaration stating he had 400 cigarettes in his possession, whereas he had, in fact, 128,600. Stanley Ronan Stracher, a purser, who was charged with both offences, pleaded guilty. Winstron Orris Ferguson, radio officer, who was jointly charged with smuggling, pleaded not guilty. After hearing evidence, Mr. A. A. McLachlan, S.M., dismissed the charge against Ferguson and fined Stracher £25 on each charge. Evidence was given by the master of the ship that the cigarettes were old and would have been dumped if it had not been necessary to account for them. They were not cigarettes, anyone would pay for. “By reason of the fact that these cigarettes would not be liable for customs duty, it is with some misgiving that the court has to inflict the minimum penalty,” commented the Magistrate.