CHARGE AGAINST PURSER

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 499, 22 July 1932, Page 5

CHARGE AGAINST PURSER

IMPORTATION OF COINAGE MONEY FOR SHIPWRECK RELIEF SOCIETY CONFISCATION ORDERED press Association. —Copyright. AUCKLAND, Thursday—The purser of the Huddart Parker steamer Zealandia, John Connolly Wilson, appeared in the Police Court this afternoon charged with importation into New Zea. land on Tuesday last silver of Australian coinage to the value of £32 contrary to the provisions of the coined silver regula, tions, 1931. and the Finance Act, 1931. Wilson pleaded guitty. The Crown Solicitor, appearing on behalf of the Or Hector of Customs who laid the information, said that under the Acts mentioned Ihe impor. tation of silver in larger amounts than £2 was prohibited. On Tuesday, after the Zealandia arrived from Sydney, a Customs officer stopped accused ns he was walking away fit in the ship anti found £32 in sliver in his possession. The silver was in an envelope addressed to the Huddart Parker Company at Auckland. Accused Questioned When questioned Wilson at first said the package contained £2O then £29, and finally he said it con. tained £32, which was correct. He explained that the micney was for the Shipwreck Relief Society and that he was taking it to his office for that purpose. Of the £32 £2O had been collected on board the LTimaroa and had been handed to him by the accountant of the Sydney branch of the company; the balance had been collected on board the Zealandia during the last six return trips . “The Customs Department has some difficulty in believing this explanation, as the previous purser had handed in sum of £S and £5, the last being in April,” said the Crown Solicitor. ‘‘The sudden increase in amounts is rather extraordinary. The last, pursuer asked permission to bring ashore £5 in silver, and the request was granted. It seems pccn. liar that accused should met have made similar application. Under the Act the £32 is liable to confiscation.” Wilson explained his position to the magistrate, and pleaded ignorance of the regulations. He carried the packet under his arm as he left the ship, and it was among the ship's manifest and visible to anybody, 01 the sum £2O had been handed to him by The Sydney office to be brought to the local office; the balance was the result of collections for six trips. He received £*2o in nctes, and these he changed into silver in order that the Shipwreck Society would not lose by the exchange. Magistrate’s Questions Mr. McKean: Is there anything in. side the' package besides silver to say what it is for? —No, sir. U any receipt given for,(he money collected from passengers?— Nix. I put up a notice on the ship’s notice board. ■ The Crown Solicitor; Did not the Customs officer tell you that all the silver on (he search list was to- he declared? —Yes, but 1 had no idea of the procedure. 1 have not been on this run long. The magistrate said he must accept accused’s statement that lie got £2O from the Sydney office. However, it appeared rather peculiar that a purser should not be aware of the regulations. “If 1 thought you were importing silver to benefit yourself 1 would impose a severe penally,!’ he told Wilson. “All the same, 1 don’t feed entirely satisfied, and 1 think furthei inquiries should be made concerning the ownership of this money. You have committed an offence, but I will not impose a heavy penalty. You are lined £2 and costs £2 125.” The silver was ordered to be confiscated.