USE OF RIFLES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 124, 7 March 1941, Page 7

USE OF RIFLES.

PROVISION FOR HOME GUARD. THE POWER OF IMPRESSMENT. (P.A.) WELLING TO ON, March 6. Besides making various machinery amendments to the Emergency Reserve Corps Regulations, the Government had now provided him with specific power to impress all privately-owned firearms for use by the Home Guard, said the Minister for National Service (the Hon. R. Semple) to-night. “This,” said Mr Semple, “is merely a precautionary measure to ensure that, should the necessity arise, every serviceable firearm in the country will bo available to the Homo Guard. If' the Government should exercise the powers given by this regulation, arms will be taken over on loan for the duration of the period of the emergency, and a reasonable time thereafter. Provision has been made for the payment of compensation for de-

terioration in value or condition between the time the firearm is taken over and its return to the .owner. If the original weapon is not available, it will be replaced by one of similar type, and of equivalent or greater value. V' “The regulation also provides that the value of any firearm at the time bf delivery to the , Crown shall not: exceed the purchase price, less a reasonable sum for depreciation.' ■ Provision is made for disputes about the ■ value being submitted to arbitration.” One of the reasons which prompted the Government to bring down this regulation, said Mr Semple, was thei shortage of rifles' for equipping theHome Guard. “Enrolments are rapidly; approaching the 100,000 mark,” . lie said, “and the provision of sufficient rifles to equip a force of this size would at any time bo a problem, but under present conditions it assumes serious proportions. The Prime Minister recently made an appeal to the owners of serviceable .303 rifles voluntarily to placo them at the disposal of the Government. In emphatically endorsing his statement of the position I would ask owners not to wait till next week, or next month, but to take their rifles to the nearest police station to-day., for the need is urgent.”