UNEXPECTED CUSTOMS BLITZ

Chronicle (Levin), 29 August 1946, Page 5

UNEXPECTED CUSTOMS BLITZ

Received Wednesdav, S.35 p.m. SYDXEY, August 28. Customs pfficers turned on .an unexpeeted "blitz on the Victory Contingem 'whieh retuijned to %Tdney froin Britain by the Cruiser Bliropshire todav. Buci-. denly svvitchixig plaus to land .the men by ferrv at Man o' War fciteps where relatives were waiting, they took tliem to Circular Quay and searclied bags be liind closed gates. It was niore thaii two liours before the men were alloweu to leave Ihe wharf. The majority liad to pay duty on cigarettes and tobacco and niany had to leave large quantities in bond untu they could obtain the money. The men took the. aifair in good part, but some complained that with fourteen days' leave aliead of tliem, they hau been left " broke. " The blitz is understood to have been due to the fact that the oflicer in charg*.of the eoiitingeut would not take tnc responsibilitv fpr siguing a deelaration that no member of the party had moiv tlian £10 worth of dutiable goods in his possession. Customs warnings had been given to the party after large quantities of cig arettes and tobacco had been landed ai Fremantle and Adelaide withouc u cheek. At Mclbou rno, the Customs people were on the alert after reports of saies by troops in other ports. 1