COSTLY SILK DRESSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20620, 19 July 1930, Page 3 (Supplement)

COSTLY SILK DRESSES.

SMUGGLERS FINED £650 LONDON MAN AND FIANCEE* A 60-year-old city man and his fiances, a young Frenchwoman, for whom he had bought a number of siik dresses abroad, were together fined £650 in London re-> cently for fraudulent evasion of Customs duties at Victoria Station.

The defendants were Oscar Lang, described as a prominent city man, who was fined £550, and Andree Rustenhob, who was fined £IOO. Both fines wera paid oil

the spot. Mr. R. L. Fisk, prosecuting counsel, said Lang and Rustenholz were first-class passengers from the Continent travelling with two servants. They were jointly, charged, the suggestion being that thess people of wealth were in collusion to dfti fraud the Customs. The treble duty claim on very valuable silk dresses and so forth amounted to £I4OO.

Maurice O'Flynn, officer of Customs, said that Lang asked for the clearance of six trunks at Victoria, and said he had nothing to declare, adding: "Wo are only bringing back what we took with us." The woman said: "That is corThe woman's trunks were examined and found to contain a number of dresses, all of which, it was subsequently admitted, were acquired at places abroad. Lang said to witness: "I "' anfc y OTI to understand that I accept full iesponsibilitv for this matter. I paid for the dresses and I knew they were there. Ihe lady is my guest and she will be over, here for about two months. Lam' eave evidence, and said he had no intention to defraud the Customs, but regarded the dresses as su transit for a temporary stay in England. After the fines were announced Lang asked: Shall we get the goods back ? Mr Fisk. They are torteited; but you can apply to the Commissioner of Customs for permission Ho buy them back.