VICISSITUDES OF FLAG.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20288, 22 June 1929, Page 14

VICISSITUDES OF FLAG.

GIFT FROM NEW ZEALAND. QUESTION OF CUSTOMS DUTY. [from our own correspondent. 3 LONDON, May 18. la tho current issue of tho quarterly journal of tho Association of Men of Kent and Kentish Men, there appears the following paragraph "The ladies of the New Zealand branch of the association have mado .a handsome silk New Zealand ensign and presented it to tho Folkestone branch. The inscription appears on a pennant, also made there. Wo are especially pleased at this evidence of friendship between the New Zealand branch and ourselves." It appears, however, that a silk flag is not a thing that passes through the post without difficulty. On March 2, Mr. F. Fletcher, the chairman of the Folkestone branch of the association, received a communication from the Customs and Excise Department, informing him that a letter packet from New Zealand addressed to him had been detained by tho postal authorities for customs examination. "The communication further stated that if he wished, he might be present when the package was opened. Then there came this sentence in the communication: "If you do not wish to witness the opening of the packet you should so inform me. If no reply is received to this notice within four dayS the packet will be opened and examined in your absence. I am to add that the importation of dutiable goods by letter post is prohibited, and if on examination the packet is found to contain dutiable goods the question of their forfeiture will arise." The consignee did not avail himself of the opportunity of being present when the mysterious package was opened, hence another official communication from the depot, London. This was beaded: "Notice of seizure, section 207 of the Customs Consolidated Act, 1876." This set forth that a registered letter packet, No. 270, addressed to Mr, Frank Fletcher, from New Zealand, had been opened and was found to contain one flag and one pennant. Ft was further stated that these had been seized, but the writer further kindly stated "that in this instance delivery will bo allowed so far as this department is concerned on payment of the duty, viz., 10s, and the further sum of 2s 6d as a condition of waiver of seizure." Of course, the chairman of the association. fearing that some other department might step in accepted the terms imposed. A local delivery postman called for and was paid the cash. And so, after all these formalities, including registration fees in New Zealand, the hold up and seizure, and release on payment, the precious emblem arrived.

The ensign measures 15ft. yi length and Bft. in width. It is silken and of the finest possible texture. The pennant is also silk. It bears the following inscription. beautifully worked in by ladies of tho New Zealand branch of the association: "From the New Zealand branch of the Association of the Men of Kent and Kentish Men."