2232
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 57

(5) The Resident Commissioner may from time to time, by writing under his hand, notified in the Cook Islands Gazette, appoint fit persons to be Inspectors for the purposes of these regulations, and may in like manner from time to time determine any such appointment. The production of an instrument of appointment or of a copy of the Cook Islands Gazette containing a notification thereof shall be prima facie evidence that the person named therein is for the time being an Inspector for the purposes of these regulations.

(6) All persons heretofore duly appointed to be, first, Fruit Inspectors and, secondly, Assistant Fruit Inspectors and Local Fruit Inspectors, respectively, under any of the regulations hereby revoked, and continuing in office at the date of coming into force of these regulations shall, until their appointment is determined hereunder, be deemed to have been duly appointed first as Fruit Inspectors and secondly as Assistant Fruit Inspectors, respectively, for the purposes of these regulations.

2. RESTRICTIONS ON IMPORTATION.

(1) No person shall import any plant, fruit, or produce, or anything likely to introduce insect-pests or disease into the Cook Islands, or from one island to another, except under a written permit first obtained from an Inspector to import the same, and any such plant, fruit, produce, or thing imported under such permit shall be accompanied by a certificate of inspection, signed by an horticultural officer or some other responsible officer, satisfactory to the Inspector, certifying that such plant, fruit, produce, or other things were clean and free from disease at the time of shipment.

(2) No person shall import any second-hand fruit-cases, copra-sacks, or other receptacles for carrying fruit.

(3) An Inspector may at any time, by notice in writing under his hand, require any person, being the owner, shipper, consignee, or consignor, or being in possession or having the custody or control of any plant, fruit, produce, or thing imported or attempted to be imported in contravention of clause (1) of this regulation, or any fruit-cases, copra-sacks, or other receptacles imported or attempted to be imported in contravention of clause (2) of this regulation, forthwith to destroy the same in such manner as such Inspector may require and under his supervision, or forthwith to reship the same.

(4) Any person failing forthwith to comply with a notice given under the last preceding clause (3) hereof shall be guilty of an offence against these regulations.

(5) If any person fails forthwith to comply to the satisfaction of an Inspector with a notice given under clause (3) of this regulation it shall be lawful for such Inspector to seize and destroy, or to reship, at the expense in either case of such person, the goods in respect of which such notice was given, and all expenses so incurred shall be payable to such Inspector on demand, and in case of non-payment may be recovered by such Inspector by civil action as a debt due to the Crown:

Provided that payment of such expenses shall not relieve any such person from any other liability under this regulation.

(6) No person shall remove or attempt to remove any fruit or plant introduced into the Cook Islands, or any box or other package containing the same, or any second-hand box, sack, or bag introduced into the Cook Islands, from any wharf or landing-place without first having obtained from an Inspector, or other authorized officer, a written permit so to do.

3. INSPECTION OF FRUIT FOR EXPORT.

(1) No person shall export or attempt to export any fruit unless the same has been inspected by an Inspector and unless there shall have been issued in respect thereof a certificate by an Inspector that such fruit has been duly passed as fit for export.

(2) It shall be the duty of every exporter to allow any Inspector to inspect such fruit.

(3) All fruit intended for export shall be presented to an Inspector for inspection at such places, on such days, and within such hours as the Director or an Inspector may from time to time direct, and an Inspector may refuse to inspect any fruit that may be presented for inspection otherwise than in accordance with such direction.

(4) On being satisfied that any fruit is suitable for export as regards quality, condition, appearance, and in all other respects, and is graded, packed, and marked as required by these regulations, an Inspector