EXPORT OF GOLD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21292, 20 September 1932, Page 12

EXPORT OF GOLD

DECLARATION EVADED AN EXPENSIVE BREACH FINE OF £lO ADDED On the unusual charge of wilfully exporting sovereigns without the written consent of the Minister of Finance, George Washington, aged 36, gold buyer, appeared for sentence in the Supreme Court yesterday. His counsel explained that the lot of gold taken over to Sydney included both jewellery and coined gold in sovereigns and half-sovereigns. If the Minister's consent had been obtained, there would have been no duty payable on tho sovereigns. On tho jewellery there would have been a duty of £3 15s. Washington and an associate named Wince had, both been convicted in tho Lower Court in lcspect of tlie export of the uncoined gold and had each been fined £25, which Washington had felt bound to pay for both. He had also had to pay not £3 15s, but £l7 15s to tho customs. With other legal expenses in Sydney, the case would cost him about £IOO. Tho gold was the property of Garrett and Davidson; Ltd., of Sydney, but unfortunately Washington had not followed their instructions. All that was required was tho written consent of the Minister.

Mr. Justice Smith"; I suppose he would not have got it. Counsel said he understood consent had been given in one case. He understood these proceedings were brought merely as n warning.

Thii Crown Prosecutor said the Treasury did regard as serious the exportation of gold from New Zealand without the necessary pormit, Hiii Honor: Why was he not charged with the two offences in the Police Court? Tho Crown Prosecutor said he was charged with the two offences, but one was dealt with summarily under the Gold Duty Act.. On that, Washington had paid a finu of £25. The particular charge on which Wince was brought from Sydney could not be dealt with summarily. The magistrate dismissed tho charge with reference to coined gold against Wince because there was no evidence that ho knew there was coined gold in the parcel. In answer to His Honor, the Crown Prosecutor said that the Treasury regarded the export of coined gold as more serious than that of uncoined gold. His Honor said there were not two separate transactions involved in this case and Washington had already been fined in respect of the uncoined gold. He found it difficult to assess the penalty, and it did mot seem to be a case for imprisonment, In respect of the coined gold part of tho transaction he would be fined £lO, to be paid within seven days. The default was fixed at two months' imprisonment with hard labour. "It must not be "thought that that is the measure of the seriousness of the offence if it stood alone," said His Honor, "but you have already been fined, and I am simply adding to that."