Woman Smuggler Fined £l,800

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 49, 28 February 1938, Page 2

Woman Smuggler Fined £l,Boo

Paris goods for west end SHOP, Fines totalling £2150 were imposed on two women and a company at Croydon, for the smuggling of goods by a series of frauds extending from December, 1934, nntil last June. Mrs Maud Sellers, managing directot of Miss Ware, Ltd., milliners, of Grosvenor street, W., was fined £IBOO, the company £3OO, and Miss Eva May

Bewsey, of Southey load, Wimbledon, formerly secretary of the company, £SO. It was stated that all the penalties would fall on Mrs Sellers.

The chairman, Alderman Peet, said Mrs Sellers had been the ringleader in the frauds, and they had hesitated about sending her to prison.

Pleas of guilty were made to 22 out of 27 summonses for the smuggling of hats, handbags, toilet requisites, fancy goods and plumage from Paris. It was stated that the Customs had been defrauded of £915.

Mr Stephenson, prosecuting, said that Mrs Sellers used to go to Paris with an employee and buy or order goods. Some they would bring back, while others would be sent through the ordinary channels and declared at Croydon Airport.

When goods were sent, invoices were made out for Customs purposes showing about half the true price of the goods. As to the goods brought over by Mrs Sellers or her employee, one or two small items would bo declared for duty at the ports. These would be undervalued as much as tea or moro times, the remainder would be smuggled through. Mr Stephenson added that they had smuggled a large quantity of stuff without declaring it at all. On one trip they had evaded payment of £27 duty; on another £37; in April, 1935, £35; in June, 1935, £26; in May, 1937, £l9 and last June £ls. As to the prohibited plumage, Mrs Sellers had declared that it was ‘ duck* 1 when she had been importing heron and m&nucode. Mr Walter Frampton, defending, said the company was established in 1917, and for the first ten years carried on quite successfully. From , that date trade fell away and the company became in financial difficulties. Mrs Sellers found that shops opening in her neighbourhood were able to sell goods similar to hers at much lower costs. On £SOO being paid into court the Bench allowed six months for jthe remainder of the fine.