The Fish Frauds.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7832, 26 May 1905, Page 3

The Fish Frauds.

HEAVY FIiNE INFLICTED. (Received May 25, 11.25 p.m.) MELBOURNE, May 25

In the ca&c in which a fishmonger. ,was charged with defrauding the Customs, the jury found the usage of the trade was to accept the weights on boxes of blue cod, that the weights stated: in certain Customs entries : were below such reported weights, that defendant (Alien) or his agent made a false statement of Customs entries as to the weights, and thus evaded payment o! duty, that these acts were committed with: Intent to defraud the revenue, and ttat Crockett, who managed defendant's business, acted for benefit. Judge O'Connor, in summing- up, pointed out that Crockett, whom Allen said was responsible for the mat-_ ter,left for New Zealand immediate-' ly after the Customs commenced tho iifjuiiy, Allen advancing him the money. Nor was Crockett called as a witness for the defence before the Commission held in New Zealand* Delivering judgment, 'the Judge said that altogether 33 offences had been coimmisted ; in twelve -the'element of fraud was not involved. The penalty in respect of these would be £3 each. In the case ot -the other 21, wtere fraud was involved, a penalty Of £7 each would be inflicted. lie directed that a .verdict be entered for the plaintiff on each oßence, witit costs, reserving the points raised as to the King being Hw proper plain--418, -end the alleged constitutional illegality of all but the taxation Clauses of the Customs Act.;