NO DUTY PAID ON TOBACCO

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1934, Page 7

NO DUTY PAID ON TOBACCO

OFFENCES BECOMING PREVALENT.

CHRISTCHURCH PROSECUTIONS.

By Telegraph—Press Association.

Christchurch, June 22.

The concern of the Customs Department at the rapid growth of dealing in tobacco which had not been through the Customs was expressed in the Magistrate’s Court this morning during charges brought under the Tobacco Act. George Bilton Speah, aged 28, and Arthur Augustus Newth, aged 25, both labourers, pleaded guilty that on June 12, not being licensed to manufacture tobacco, they had in their possession a tobacco press and a cutter for the manufacture of tobacco. They were fined £5 each and costs £3 2s. Three other charges were withdrawn, the Crown counsel saying that the defendants were frank and evidently were in a comparatively small way. They had 601 b. of manufactured tobacco in their possession and were arrested while actually endeavouring to make a sale. They came from Nelson, and endeavours were being made to see how they obtained the leaf. “The department is aware that the business of selling tobacco on which duty has not been paid has assumed tremendous proportions, and the police have great difficulty -in tracing the offenders,” said the prosecutor. This was the first case of its kind in New Zealand for these offences, and stringent provisions were made in the act. The magistrate, Mr. E. D. Mosley, said they were ridiculous in many cases. Counsel admitted that the penalties were heavy, but smuggling in all its branches was considered one of the most heinous offences on the calendar.