REGISTRATION OF ARMS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 109, 1 February 1921, Page 8

REGISTRATION OF ARMS

DIFFICULTY AT. AUCKLAND. An extraordinary position in regard to the registration of firearms under tho new Arms Act has arisen owing to the lack of printed certificates of registration which tho Act provides that all arms-holders must produce on demand after January 31 (remarks the “New Zealand Herald,” of Saturday). Tn tho Auckland district about’ 10.000 applicalions for reg'ifi’tration of all classes of firearms have been received, and as no forms have been supplied, the police have been obliged to adopt forms of their own. Alxmt 250 automatic pistols have beeiu handed in for compensation, and these weapons are submitted to an expert and their value paid to the former owner as soon as possible. The majority of returned soldiers arc claiming compensation rather than keep their war souvenirs, of which only about 40 have been retained. All automatic pistols must be registersb before! January 31 and handed in before March 31. AU applications to retain automatic pistols are forwardeel to the Minister of Defence by tho police. As the position now stands the staff a.t the Auckland Tolice Station, registration office is working at high pressure to deal with the steady stream of applicants which flows through the office all day, nnd it is improbable that any certificate of registration forms wilT bo received in time for tho police to post them to the applicants before the last day of thw month. It will be a punishable offence for an arins-holder to fail to produce a certificate of registration after this month, but it seems hardy likely that a prosecution under that' particular section will be matte until the present delay is overtaken.