A QUESTION OF DUTY.

Mataura Ensign, 14 May 1912, Page 5

A QUESTION OF DUTY.

! CLAIM AGAINST WAIHI COMPANY. PES UNITED J'KESS .ASSOCIATION. : AUCKLAND, May 13. ; A claim against the Waihi Coid Mining Company tor duty alleged to he duo and unpaid upon cenain machinery lias been in preparation by the Customs Department Tor some tune, and the ease was hoard at. the Supreme Court before .Mr.Justice Kdwards to-day. The claim, which is made bv the .Minister for Customs, is i'or £ll)!>7 iL's 10d, being duty alleged to be due upon certain imported' pumps. Hon. J. A. Pole appeared for tho Customs Department, and the company was represented by .Mr T. Cotter, iv.C, with him Mr C. .). 'l'imks. j The defendants claimed that a re])re- j sentative oi' the Customs Department had seen the pumps in operation, knew what they were tied i'or, and passed them notwithstanding. j The Department denied this, hut claimed that, even if mistakes were made, it was not debarred from making a. claim. The question for the jury was; whether the disputed point had been: referred to the Minister for Customs for decision and whether the company knew, of the decision and refused to pay tin*' duty. _ i Evidence was given by two Customs: landing-waiters and by the Collector of; Customs at Auckland. j The ease was adjourned till to-mor-; row. j