CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15821, 21 July 1913, Page 5

CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD

IMPORTATION OF MOTOR ! CARS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, July 18. The hearing of the case against Ralph Millbum, Walter John Kemsley, Edward William Idle Bruce, Anthony Cuthherfson, and Alfred Edward Kemsley, who are charged with having, between January 19, 1910, and June 10, 1910, conspired with Raymond Ewart Kemsley, William Crowlo, Cecil Thomas Bray, Charles Brown Kellow, Isaac Phizackerley, and others to defraud, by means of false invoices and declarations, hJ6 Majesty's Customs of duty on motor-cars,' cycles, tyres, and accessories imported into Australia, has been commenced.

Albert Kemsley was absent, and there is little probability that he. will ever be able to attend.

Mr Fulton, counsel for the Commonwealthy spoke for four hours. He alleged that the firm of Tozer, Kemsley, and Fisher persuaded certain English manufacturers to falsify their invoices. These were passed on to the Kemsley Company Proprietary, who in turn sent them to Australia. The Kemsley proprietary controlled all the agencies for the principal cars in the Commonwealth. Counsel explained that the proceedings had been taken in Australia.The case was adjourned for a week. When the cable message from London was 'brought under the notice of the Federal Minister for Customs (Mr Groom) on June 26 he admitted that the action mentioned had been prompted by his department. "It is a continuation of the cases which wero heard here," he said. The Comptroller-general of Customs (Mr I/cekyer) stated that the proceedings were the necessary outcome of recent prosecutions which had been launched in Australia against a number of importers of motor-cars. In connection with these a largo amount of duty had been recovered. Tho action in England had been taken by the Customs Department on the advice of tho Federal Crown law authorities. When asked if it was intended that Australian officers should be sent to England to give evidence in the cases, tho Minister was not prepared to make any statement. It was understood, however, that arrangements had' been made For two officers of the Victorian branch cf the .Customs Department-Messrs Furmedge and Owens—who were important witnesses in Australia, taking their departure for England by the R.M.S. •Medina.