OFFICIAL STAMPS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2081, 16 May 1907, Page 3

OFFICIAL STAMPS.

Press Association. DUNEDIN, yesterday. . The caso brought against W. L. Hooper, philatelist, oi having dealt in “official” stamps -without being licensed, was dismissed. Mr. Widdowson held that the evidence was not sufficient to prove the offence charged. In giving judgment His Worship said Defendant is charged under section 16 of the Stamp Act, 1882 with having on March 14th unlawfully dealt in stamps within the meaning of the Act, without being duly licensed to deal in such stamps. The stamps in question bear the prinl “official,” and are issued to and for use by Government and other authorised departments" in place of the sysj tern of franking, which was abolishe( in December, 1906. They are- therefore such as cannot be sold or used by a licensed stamp dealer or the public Assuming that such stamps conic within the provisions of the Act, car defendant be said to have dealt ir stamps within ' tlio meaning of the Stamp Act? Defendant is a philatelist, but is not licensed to deal ir stamps. The evidence' als<s shows thal these stamps were bought \by, and were in the possession cif defendiy.it and that he intended to sell or otherwise dispose of them. A dealer stands intermediately between the producoi and the consumer, and depends foi his profit not upon the labor he bestows upon his commodities, but.iipor the skill and foresight with which lie watches the market. It seems, there fore, that to constitute dealing, there must be something in the nature o< a distributing business or trading and more than mere buying or acquiring, although coupled with the ill tontion to sell again or to exchange