FEDERAL CUSTOMS CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12862, 10 May 1905, Page 5

FEDERAL CUSTOMS CASE.

NEW ZEALAND FISH IMPORTATION'S.

TRIAL IN THE HIGH COURT.

By Telegraph —Press Association Copyrights

(Kceclved May 10, 1.7 a.in.)

Melboubne, May 9. Mk. Justice O'Connor, in the High Court, has commenced the hearing of cases wherein certain fish importers are charged with defrauding the Customs in connection with the importation" of New Zealand blue cod. There are four defendants, and altogether some 29 shipments 'are involved, but only four cases have been taken. The defence is a general denial of the allegations of misrepresentation and fraud. Mr. Duffy, in openiug the case for the Crown, said that (.here was great laxity on the part of Customs officials at souie of the wharves. Ho instanced the case of an importer named Allen, who, lie said, wad allowed to take away cases of fish, and to supply his own weights, which, instead of being from 621b to 681b (according to the figures supplied from New Zealand), were never made above 'Villi. In oilier instances he picked out a small case and averaged tho others by it. lor examination. The documents, on being compared with the New Zca.la.nd exporters' invoices, showed remarkable differences. In one case Mien made an entry in respect to 68611b fish, representing dutj under £29, whereas, as a. matter of fact, the quantity was 13,5381b, and the duty payable £56. Allen's books bad all been destroyed, but his principal, Lucas, in New Zealand, had account sales there showing, that Allen was passing fish through the Customs in low weights, and paying the duty on such low weights, but charging Lucas the full weight duty,