SMUGGLING CHARGE

Grey River Argus, 24 July 1923, Page 5

SMUGGLING CHARGE

CAMEOS FROM ITALY. INTERESTING CHARGE. (Per Press Assoi-’ation.) WELLINGTON, July 22. An interesting case was that of an j Italian fisherman, Francesco Cataldo, rTm:Qe<l with smuggling 200 cameos into N.Z., and unshipping them here without a permit. It was heard before Mr E. Page. S.M. The Crown Prosecutor, P. S. K. Ma-cas.-ay. conducted the case for the prosecution. Defendant was represented by Air J. S. Hanna. Mr Macnssay said the defendant had arrived in New Zealand from Italy on .Time (i, 1921, and had 200 cameos in his possession, 10-1 which he sold to a local jeweller, S. G. Ross. The case was then brought under notice of the , Cutome. 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 good, the dutv was 30 per cent. Cameos were classed as fancy goods, and this had been the case for the past 15 years. According to tho Finance Act, 1915. a dutv of 1 per cent, was due on all goods imported into New Zealand. In June. 1923, tho Minister definitely stat- . od that cameos made of shell were fancy goods. Air AfeLaurin (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. V purchaser of the cameos said she had no idea at tho time of the purchase that the goods had not boon through the Customs. Defendant said be purchased Um stones from a boat which enme alongside tho steamer at Naples. Decision was reserved.