SMUGGLING CHARGE

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIII, 24 July 1923, Page 6

SMUGGLING CHARGE

AN INTERESTING CASE FEB FBBSS ASSOCIATION —COFTBIGHT « WELLINGTON, Monday. An interesting case, in which an Italian fisherman named Francesco Cataldo was charged with smuggling 200 cameos into New Zealand, and unshipping them here without a permit, was heard before Mr E. Page, S.M., to-day. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr P. S. K. Macassey) conducted the case for the prosecution, and defendant was represented by Mr J. S. Hanna. Mr Macassey said that defendant had arrived in New Zealand from Italy on June 6, 1921, and had 200 cameos in his possession, 104 of which he sold to local jewellers. The case was then brought under the notice of the Customs and the greater number of the cameos were recovered. Basil Warring, Clerk in the Customs Office, gave evidence that the Customs Duties Act, 1908, imposed a duty on all goods imported, with certain exceptions. Ou various fancy goods, the duty was 30 per cent. Cameos imported were classed as fancy goods, and this had been the case for the past 15 years. According to the Finance Act, 1915, a. duty of 1 per cent, was due on all these goods imported into New Zealand. In June, 1923, the Minister definitely stated that cameos made of shell, were fancy goods.

J. McDaurin, Collector of Customs, said that cameos were classed as fancy goods by the head office in 1882. Duty had been paid on cameos in the past forty years. A purchaser of cameos said she had no idea at the Limo of the purchase that the goods had not been through the Customs.

Defendant said he purchased stones from a boat which came alongside the steamer at Naples. Decision was reserved.