THROUGH THE CUSTOMS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4906, 23 November 1925, Page 3

THROUGH THE CUSTOMS.

WHEN A HOMIE LINER ARRIVES. A HARASSING BUSINESS. "There is no doubt about it, It is a harassing business this going through the Customs!” said a much-travelled passenger from England by the lonic, which arrived at Wellington last week, as he wiped the perspiration from his brow, keeping a sharp eye on the truck loads of luggage that were being run into the tshed. “I wouldn’t mind it so much if the process were the same the world over. Then one would know what to expect, and be ready for it. I think an International Customs Congress would make it a lot easier for travellers.” “It’s never the same in two places, you know,” continued the traveller, after a few words with a Customs official. “There are some places I go to that I never have to show up at al), and then, at others, they want to see everything—even to the bottom of your toothbrush case. In some places they take a man’s word that he is not a smuggler; in other places your word doesn’t count a straw. In some - places, they are polite to the point of sweetness ; in others you are regarded as an expert diamond smuggler before you leave the gangway. “On the whole, New Zealand is not so bad. If you are not in a blazing hurry the officers treat you decently, and if they do .open one out of every three or four packages, well, they’re welcbme to. Anyway, it’s their duty. In Australia they don’t worry much unless it is diamonds or opium. What does it matter if a woman comes back with twenty dresses instead of the ten she left with ? It’s too small a thing to worry about. In any case, she has probably worn them all, and. will want others in a month or.two.” With. that the traveller, resumed pourparlers with a Custom’s, officer, presented his red slip as a check that he had so many packages* of luggage, described so and so,- and as tiheese were examined and passed each one was tiejeed off, and one of the shipping company’s clerks stood by to give a white slip as a clearance 1 for each package. When these were all made out and signed by the.owner, the luggage was removed from the shed by Harbour Board men and handed over to a’carrier (who was not allowed in the shed).

The process is a little tediousv but it has been found to be effective. At one time carriers were allpwed in the sheds to remove luggage wlhich had been cleared, but there were occasions when they removed it so effectively that the owner never saw it again, which brought about the present check system, which, on the whole, works very well.