FRENCH FROCKS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 177, 30 June 1925, Page 11

FRENCH FROCKS

REPRESENTED AS BRITISH. IMPORTER PLEADS GUILTY. AUCKLAND, Juno 27. Five charges of producing to His Majesty’s Customs officers, as true documents, invoices for 100 dresses and 72 coats, containing certificates that they were of British origin, which was erroneous, the goods being of French origin, were preferred against Samuel Levin, in the Police Court before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M. Mr Paterson, of the Crown Solicitor’s office, prosecuted on behalf of the Customs Department, while Mr Finlay appeared for Levin and pleaded guilty to all livo charges. Air- Paterson said that Levin was in business in Auckland in 1923, when he became bankrupt. At the end of 1923 lie left for England, ostensibly as a buyer for a Paris house, but lie carried on business, said Mr Paterson. At the end of last year, under the name of Slee, he purchased large quantities of goods in England and on the Continent without paying for them. Mr Finlay: That is not so at all, Mr Paterson. There is no proof of it. Continuing, Mr Paterson said that Levin put through the Customs a considerable amount of goods. Later inquiries were made from the firms from whom the goods were purchased, when it was ascertained that the goods were of French manufacture and not British, as was declared by Levin. Mr Hunt: How much duty did Levin deprive the Customs of? Mr Paterson: As far as we know £Bl 9s, sir, but there must be a lot more. Some goods were seized from the shop in Auckland where Levin sold them. Mr Finlay said that Levin was not able to be present in Court, as he was about to undergo a most serious ab-

dominal operation. Levin said that the vendors of the goods represented that they were of British manufacture. In fact they gave certificates that they were of British make. Mr Finlay said that his unfortunate client would, in any case, have to pay the duty. He was only in a smnll way of business, and could not afford to pny anything like £SOO in fines. Mr Paterson: I am instructed to press for the full penalty of £IOO in each of the live cases, your Worship. Mr Hunt: On each of throe of the charges Levin will be fined £IOO and £3 10s costs. On the other two he will be convicted and ordered to pay the costs,' £7.