VICISSITUDES OF FLAG.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17752, 2 July 1929, Page 11

VICISSITUDES OF FLAG.

GIFT FROM NEW ZEALAND. SEIZED BY CUSTOMS. (From a Correspondent.) LONDON, May 18. In the current issue of Kent, the quarterly journal of the Association of Men of Kent and Kentish Men, there appears the following paragraph:— “The ladies of the New Zealand branch of the association have made a handsome silk New Zealand ensign anil presented it to the Folkestone branch. The inscription appears on a pennant, also made by them. We are especially pleased at this evidence of friendship between the New Zealand branch and ourselves." Importation Prohibited. It appears, however, that a silk flag is not a thing that passes through the post without difficulty. On March 2 Mr F. Fletcher, the chairman of the Folkestone branch Ox the association, received a communication from H.M. Customs and ExciseDepartment, Mount Pleasant Depot, London, informing him that a letter packet from New Zealand addressed to him had been detained by the postal authorities for Customs examination. The communication further stated tha. if he (Mr Fletcher) wished he could, under the provisions of Section 18 Ox the Post Office Act, 1908, be present when the package was opened. Then there came this sentence in the communication: "If you do not wish to witness the opening of the packet you should so Inform me. If no reply is received to this notice within four days the packet will be opened and examined in your absence. lam to add that the importation of dutiable goods by letter post is prohibited, and if on examination the packet is found to contain dutiable goods the question of their forfeiture will arise.” Notlc® of seizin'®. The consignee did not avail himself of the opportunity of being present when the mysterious package was i opened, hence another official communication from the Depot, London. This was headed: “Notice of Seizure, Section 207 of the Customs Consolidation Act, 1876." This set forth that a registered letter packet, No 270, ad dressed to Mr Frank Fletcher from New Zealand, had been opened and was found to contain one flag and one pennant. It was further stated that these had been seized, but the;V n !'® further kindly stated ‘‘that in this instance delivery will be allowed so far as this department is concerned on payment of the duty-viz., 10s and the further sum of 2s 6d as a condition of'waiver of seizure." Of course the chairman of the association fearing that some other department might step in accepted the terms imposed. A local delivery postman called for and was paid the cash. And so, after all these formalities, including registration fees in New Zealand, the hold up and seizure, and release on payment, the precious emblem arrived. . The ensign measures 15 feet m length and 8 feet in width. It is silken and of the finest possible texture. The pennant-.ls also. silk. It Mars .the following inscription, beautifully worked In -by ladies of the New Zealand hranch of the association: —‘ From the New, Zealand branch of the Association of the Men of Kent and Kentish Men.