AUTOMATIC PISTOL

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 68, 21 March 1931, Page 14

AUTOMATIC PISTOL

DIRT-TRACK RIDER IN COURT

Lionel Van Praag,.Australian "dirt" track rider, appeared at the Magistrate's Court yesterday on a charge of being unlawfully in possession' of an automatic pistol and ammunition. The Magistrate (Mr. E. Page) fined' Van Praag £10 and ordered the weapon and ammunition to be forfeited. Sub-Inspector W,ard said that the police were searching a room occupied by the accused in one of the hotels yesterday and found • the pistol and the ammunition in a drawer. Tha. magazine was loaded with seven cartridges. The accused told one of the detectives that he landed in Now Zealand about three weeks ago. , Before his arrival he saw the Customs declaration form asking whether the passenger had any firearms, and he put his answer down in the negative. He stated thathis reason for doing this was that h^ intended going to Europe shortly and wanted to take the gun with him. It was pointed out by the Sub-Inßpee-tor that the importation of firearms into the Dominion without a permit was prohibited. The importation of automatic pistols was absolutely prohibited except in some exceptional cases such as war trophies. A special permit from the Minister of Defence would have to be obtained for this. Mr. Page: "Have the police any suggestions why this man should be in possession of the pistol?" Sub-Inspector Ward said 'that there was nothing previously known against Van Praag, but there was no reason why it should have been, loaded. Van Praag pointed out that although there were cartridges in the magazine there were none in the chamber, and the safety catches were applied.