SILVER FROM AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20929, 20 July 1931, Page 8

SILVER FROM AUSTRALIA.

TWO ENGINEERS FINED.

MONEY BROUGHT ON MARAMA.

SUM OF £I4OO INVOLVED."!

MINIMUM PENALTIES IMPOSED.

[by telegraph.—press association.] WELLINGTON. Sunday'

Further evidence of the trafficking in silver between Australia and New Zealand was revealed in the Police Court yesterday, when two engineers from the Marama were charged with importing into New Zealand, or being knowingly concerned in the importation into New Zealand, of silver coin, contrary to the regulations made under the Customs Act. Defendants were Charles Edward Costain, an electrician, aged 31, and George Joseph Loder, a marine engineer, aged 32. The total value of the silver involved was £I4OO.

Mr. P. S. K. Macassey, who appeared x for the Customs Department, said tha charges arose out of an arrest at Auckland. The defendants, who occupied the; same cabin, received £I4OO in silver to bring to New Zealand, and, on their own admissions, each was to receive £7 for doing this. Both men had admitted their parts in the offence.

Unaware of Regulations. Appearing for defendants, Mr. K. Scott said they had no interest in the money other than having the custody of it on the voyage. Counsel contended there must bo a distinction between the man who took a large sum of money for the purpose of making a profit 7 on it himself, and th» man who only assisted in such a project and received a small amount for doing so, The 'regulations prohibiting the importation of silver into New Zealand were mada quite recently, and the defendants, being in the Marama, did not see the newspapers and did not know of the regula* tions. They thought they were acting quite legally in doing what they did..

Mr. Scott mentioned the fact that both men vrere about to sit for professional examinations, and, if convictions were entered against, them, they would not be 1 '

allowed to sit. This would ruin their careers, and he asked that the magistrate should exercise his powers under sectioa 92 of the Justices of the Peace Act, and order the defendants to pay some amount as costs, and not enter a conviction.

No Alternative to Co&vicUoii. Mr. • Macassev said the information were not laid under the Justices, of the Peace Act, but under the Customs Act. He did not know what effect convictions would have on men sitting for an examination, but he could hardly credit that they would not be allowed to sit. "I am quite satisfied I have no alternative upon the facts but to enter a conviction," said the magistrate, Mr. T. B. McNeil. "Even if the charge were laid under the Justices of the Peace Act, I would have to enter a conviction, or I would be making a farce of such a serious Act." He added thai if the convictions did prevent, the men from sitting for their examinations, no doubt representations would be made to the proper authorities for the matter to be'reviewed.' ' W w v Each defendant was fined the minimum amount of £25 and ordered to pay costs, £2 2s.