FRENCH FROCKS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16773, 4 July 1925, Page 13

FRENCH FROCKS.

REPRESENTED AS BRITISH. FINES TOTALLING £SOO. Five charges of producing to Customs officers, as true documents, invoices for 100 dresses and 72 coats, containing certificates that they were of British origin, which was erroneous, the goods being of French origin, were preferred against Samuel Levin, at Auckland. Mr. Paterson, of the Crown Solicitor’s office, prosecuted on behalf of the Customs Department, while Mr. Finlay appeared for Levin and pleaded guilty to all five charges. Mr. Paterson said that Levin was in business in Auckland in .1923, when he became bankrupt. At the end of 1923 he left for England, ostensibly as a buyer for Paris House, but he carried on business, said Mr. Paterson. At the end of last yeah, under the name of Slee, he purchased large quantities of goods in England and ou tlie Continent without paying for them. Mr. Finlay: That is not so at all, Mr. Paterson. There is no proof of it. Continuing, Mr. Paterson said that Levin put through the Customs a considerable amount of goods. Later inquiries were made from the firms from whom tho goods were purchased, when it was ascertained that the goods were of French manufacture and not British, as was declared by Levin. Mr. Hunt: How much duty did Levin deprive the Customs of? Mr. Paterson: As far as we know £Bl 9s, but. there must be a lot more. Some goods wero seized from the shop in Auckland where Levin sold them. Mr. Finlay said that Levin was not able to be present in Court, as ho was about to undergo a most serious abdominal operation. Levin/said that the vendors of the goods represented that they were of British mamlfaeture. In fact they gave certificates that tliev were of British make. Mr. Finlay said that, his unfortunate client would, in any case, have to pay the duty. He was only in a small way of business, and could not afford to pay anything like £50(1 in fines. Mr. Paterson: t am instructed to press for the full penalty of £IOO in each of the five cases, your worship. Mr. Hunt: On each of three of the charges Levin will be fined £IOO and £3 10s costs. On the other two he will be convicted and ordered to pay tlio costs, £7. .