Story: Customs and tariffs

Illicit whisky still

Illicit whisky still

H. S. Cordery, collector of customs at Invercargill, and Detective Sergeant Hewitt stand behind an illegal still which they had raided at Ferndale, near Gore, in 1933. The heavy duties on imported spirits and the excise on locally produced alcohol encouraged both smuggling and illicit stills. The Customs Department became heavily involved in policing such activities. Cordery was known as the ‘Hammer of the Scots’ because of his zeal in raiding stills around Southland.

Image courtesy of S. Young and the Hokonui Moonshine Museum

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Gore Historical Museum
Reference: Moonshine Gallery

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How to cite this page:

Tony Simpson, 'Customs and tariffs - Tariffs for revenue, 1840–1940', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/22570/illicit-whisky-still (accessed 24 April 2024)

Story by Tony Simpson, published 11 Mar 2010