FRENCH RED TAPE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 190, 29 July 1911, Page 3 (Supplement)

FRENCH RED TAPE.

COMEDY OF A CIGAR I.IGHTER

The little automatic cigar lighters which were to be seen everywhere, in Paris uniil tho Government began to sell them are much less popular now. and people are going back to the oldfash:on<‘d match, bid as this nroduet is in Franco. Red ta]>e has killed tho • tear lighter in France, and with it killed a fruitful source of revenue. But nobody need wonder at the fact. A friend of mine (writes a correspondent) was telling me recently of tho adventure ho had with one of these lighters which a friend sent him as a present from Brussels. He received a note from the customs authorities stating that a parcel had arrived for him containing a. cigar lighter, and that if he wanted it he must pay the tax.

“I respect my country’s laws.” he said, ‘ and went to the Custom House. 'You will have to pay twopence tax on th" lighter.’ 1 was told, ‘and a half-penny on the stone.’ Obedient to my coitntrv’s law- f laid 2i<l on the criinter. ‘Ah. no! ’said the inspector, tho 2GI is the customs dues. You will nlw. have to pay the iiseal tax of Is t;d for th > stamp.’ T laid a twofranc piece down, and the inspector rniled.

"‘I am extremely sorry.’ he said. ; ‘’mt I cannot give you your cigar I lighter oven now. A’nu see, we do not sell the little im-ta! stamps for tho : !■- fid. and we must be certain that yoir will buy and fix >t to your cigar . lighter. Otherwise rhe fi-cal authori- ! firs would.’ ‘But what am J to do?’ ■ 1 asked. “ ‘You "ill take to

"'You "ill have to obtain from tho Ministry of Finance an aiitb wisatieu to import the cigar lighter. You will then re-on e from us on application a receipt upon paper with a fid. stamp. You will tlmn p'v •*:!. and deposit fiv* times th“ amount of the tax. AYo shall then seal your lit’b' box. and von will take it <o one of the four official offices. "here’ — — “And ” said mv fr’<’nd. "I have written to thank my relation in Brussels for his present, which I have left at the Custom House, and shall continue t>» leave there. Life is too short to claim it."