THE CUSTOMS SEIZURE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7067, 3 March 1910, Page 1

THE CUSTOMS SEIZURE

CONTRABAND RETURNED. Several of the Chinese memoers of tile, crew of the Eastern Extension Cable Company's steamer Patrol Who had their quarters searched by the Customs'. officers on Tuesday afternoon were in a less perturbed;state yesterday when they learnt .that the 500 cigars, tobacco, and 31b of opium seized by the Customs were to ,be returned to them. Tho Collector of Customs (Mr C. S. Nixon) took into consideration the exceptional circumstances of tho case. Although a breach of -the Customs Act had been committed in bringing a prohibited drug, opium, into port without duly declaring it to the Customs, . yet the quantity , seized was relatively small and the. opium Was for the men's own use. Complaints had been made that Chinese had been trading in cigars and cigarettes and tho seizure -was meant as an object lesson to the men. The cable steamer was, however, ta be accorded a lifftle latitude in these matters, such as a man-of-war would be. It was an impossibility to fix tho responsibility for the -evasion .6f_ tho Customs regulations Upon any individual among so, many who occupied the quarters where the seizures were made. Under the circumstances it was thought best to return the goods to tho vessel providing that the officers •put the stuff under peal until the vessel had le'ft port. This will prevent any .possibility of tho Chinese, who are permitted* to go ashore, disposing of the opium, which can command a his. price owing to the Customs pro■hibition against- it. Any .person, who is, addicted to opium smoking would feel somewhat acutely ' the effect of suddenly having supplies cut off, and this no doubt was the cause of the uproar among the Chinese -when -their precious drug ,was seized.