AVOIDED DUTY

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20284, 28 August 1937, Page 27 (Supplement)

AVOIDED DUTY

OUBTOMB FRAUDS DRESSES, HATS, COATS FOUR WOMEN FINED. (From a Correspondent). LONDON, July 20. Summonses alleging fraudulent attempts to evade the payment of duties on dresses, hats, «6ats and other ertioles of clothing were heard at Folkestone. The defendants were: Miss Stella Mary Locker-Lampson, of Markham Street, Chelsea, six summonses. Mrs Elsie Nell Miller, of Upper Cheyne Road, Chelsea, six summonses. Mrs Vera Kathleen Boys, of Reeves House, Reeves Mews, London, W. 1., two summonses. Mrs Marjorie Edith Lily Thomas, of Norfolk Cottage, North Row, Park 'Lane, W. 1., two summonses. Summonses alleging the harbouring of oertaln uncustomed goods were withdrawn. Mr Walter Frampton represented all the defendants, who pleaded guilty. Mr B. M. Stephenson, prosecuting, said Miss Looker-Lampson, Mrs Thomas and Mrs Miller were directors of a dress business carried on as Miller et Cle., at Carlos Place London. Mrs Boys was an employee of the firm and acted as a mannequin when in England. She also went abroad for the purpose of buying dresses and other articles. The summonses related to two separate transactions. There was what was called the autumn collection — dresses bought In the autumn of 1936, and the spring collection—dresses bought in spring this year. These ladles went over twice to France and purchased goods In Paris, and while there arranged to smuggle the goods Into this country, Mr Stephenson alleged. By Separate Routes. The defendants separated and came back to the country separately, one to Folkestone, another to Gatwlck airport another to Croydon airport and to Newhaven. With regard to the autumn collection. Miss Locker-Lampson, Miller end Mrs Boys were in Paris In September or October. There was ne suggestion that Mrs Thomas w r as there on that oooaslon. They bought a number of dresses from certain well known firms In Paris, and, either on their own Initiative or at the suggestion of someone at one of those firms, they decided to come beck by separate route# and only paid duty on certain goods. Mr Stephenson added that the system they adopted to evade duty was the old one of wearing the goods and “trusting to luck.” They got through with them and put the dresses and other articles in their showroom either as models or for sale. It made no difference If they were used for models. An exaotly similar thing occurred with the spring collection, but on that occasion Instead of Mrs Boys being In Paris, Mrs Thomas was there. Mrs Thomas brought one frock In herself hy wearing It, but with regard to the remaining dresses and coats the women apparently had not sufficient money to pay for them at the time. When they came back to England they sent* the money over to Paris, and a friend was asked to bring the goods over, an arrangement being made that duty should only be paid on one or two minor items, the more expensive dresses to be smuggled in. "Smuggled the Lot.” •roe arrangement was carried out to the extent that Instead of paying duty on one or two minor Items the lady who brought them over smuggled the lot, and they came in “non-duty paid " The duty was subsequently paid under rather strange circumstances, and In fact the duty on the spring collection had since been fully Mr Stephenson said that Mrs Miller and Miss Locker-Lampson both strenuously affirmed that every article of the autumn collection which bad been bought abroad had been declared. Subsequently, however. Miss LockerLampson called at the Customs office In London, and said that she wished to “make a clean breast of It all.” •*She regarded herself,” said Mr Stephenson, “as I think she Is. ns the person mainly to blame for this adT *Mr Frampton said that all the de--renture In bu * in ?f s - 1 he ( > h " d 'ZH UUI« oft pi ta l. T I'* 1 pnrehases win* li* »"' 1 "o* for l h *ot Into tom'li xvill. a woman In Paris ~a. to bring dresses over and svoM payment It possible on three **"That°'vnman surpassed herself, because she came over without de%r 8 and Mrs Miller were each fined lb on each of idx summonses t«0 ear Mr. Thomas. £«° y ‘ £ , ea ‘ h of menses: and Mis Bo * a * 10 two summonses. ___