CLAIM FOR DUTY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 117, 15 May 1912, Page 5

CLAIM FOR DUTY.

' PS3PARTMENT', ▼.

■{VniBSS- ASSOCIATION.!

AUCKLAND, May 14

Judge .EHwards, yesterday commenced the hevri.n gof a, claim by the Minister for Customs for £1087 12s lOd against.'tlie IVaalii Gold Mining .Company, beitig duty allegedly due supon certain imported pumps. Mi- Tole, for the Customs Department,, said 'that the question was Tvliether the punips in question were truly sinking pumps intended for mining "imrpQses and therefore free of tiutv. or whether the ptrmps were not exclusively so intended: and therefore dutiable. ' The Department claimed that the pumps were sinking pumps, but ordinary fixed pumps. The question for the jury was whether the Waihi Company knew _tha.t tilie Minister had decided that these pumps were dutiable., and refused to pay the duty,.--./-During the cross-examination Judge Edwards criticised themethods adopted by Mr Cotter, K.C., wlw aiv p'eared for. the-Company, and disallowed some1 of his questions.

"Mr Cotter finally sat down, complaining tmvtt he ■ was not receiving common.,-courtesy, and the case, was adjourned. ~ •; ■ ■

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