CARGO OF HONEY FORFEITED

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 101, 23 January 1919, Page 8

CARGO OF HONEY FORFEITED

' FALSE DECLAMATION BY SHIPPEKS.

At tlie Sydney Central Summons Court'the Customs 'Department proceeded against three men on an in formation alleging. that on or about. August IC. 1918, they were directly, concerned in the commission of an ,offonce against the Customs Department, namely, the making of an \mtruo statement .in a declaration.

Tho ■defendants were: C. J. Ramsay, merchant; J. J. Suliivau, produco dealer; .ind "Walter j>-Smith, shipping clerk. ■ .•■-■-.

It M-as-allcgc-d that in August, 1918, there , was shinned for London 160 tons of honey, whfeh was not shown in the manifest. The honey was ' discovered and eeized by the Customs authorities on the arrival of the vessel at Brisbane'. • . '

The Magistrate'said lie. had decided to convict. He l'oimd that the-honey in question:was intended for overseas and not for' Brisbane, aiul that the , defendants were'aware.-'of that fact. In the: case , of Smith.' however, he wouldimpose .the minimum ponalty, as he looked upon him as a. dupo, although a willing dupe, in the-case.-:. The fines inflicted were: Sullivan, £100. with £26 os. professionnl costs and £20 witnesses' expenses; Ramsay. £100, with £26 ss. professional costs and £1") 9s. witnesses' expenses; Smith, £25. Mr. J. A. Ferguson, who appeared for the Customs Department, anno&nced that'the cargo of honey, would be forfeited.