Custom Frauds.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 1, 6 January 1909, Page 5

Custom Frauds.

Interesting details of the working of the Merchandise Marks Act during the past year are given in the annual report of the Commissioners of Customs. London. Among the cases in which the clause of the Act authorising seizure was put in force were consignments of Felt hats from Italy marked “London manufacture." Bicycle chains from Belgium in cartons marked “Made by ” with the name of a British firm. Picture postcards from Germany marked as printed and published by a British firm. Spirits in Kittle from Germany marked “Old scotch whisky.” Soap from Germany marked “Fine English blue mottled soap." Cigars from Belgium purporting to come from Havana.

In many cases foreign reprint-* of b « which arc copyright in this • «ntry • s souzed, and. under the arrang* e.-nt wi. < h ba?* been made with many pub.i*hvrs and authors, distributed among the lighthouses ami lightships round the ovist. Smugglers uere busy during the year, with the result that 10.345 pound- of tobacco was seized for the “King’s Pipe.” which is smokeil by the inmates of the criminal lunatic a-ylums.