(1) Where the agent of a ship or aircraft from which any goods have been landed at a port and accepted by the Authority for carriage or warehousing or for delivery to the consignee, notifies the General Manager in writing that the freight or other charges in respect of such goods remain unpaid, the General Manager shall retain the goods and refuse delivery of them to the consignee or any other person until—
(a) the payment of such freight or other charges in respect of such goods; or
(b) the production of a receipt for, or a release from, the payment of such amount signed, or purporting to be signed by or on behalf of the agent.
(2) Where the Authority causes to be delivered any goods in respect of which a notice is given under subsection (1) to a person making such payment or producing such receipt or release as is referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) of that subsection, the Authority shall be freed from all liability to any person in respect of the goods.
(3) This section shall not be construed as requiring any person to take into the custody of the Authority any goods which would not otherwise be receivable by the Authority under the provisions of this Act or any regulation or as requiring the Authority to inquire into the validity of any claim made for freight or any other sums mentioned in any notice given by an agent under subsection (1).