TO BE IMPRESSED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 97, 26 April 1941, Page 10

TO BE IMPRESSED

.303 RIFLES

PARTS ALSO TO BE TAKEN

HOME DEFENCE NEEDS

The Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser )] announced today that the Government had decided to take steps to [■obtain possession of all privately owned .303 rifles or parts of ,303 rifles. The impressment order under the Emergency Reserve Corps Regulations will be gazetted immediately. In explaining tlwf implications of the Order, Mr. Fraser stated that the situation regarding the supply of rifles to the home defence forces had been carefully considered and in the light of existing circumstances the Government deemed it necessary to obtain the use of all privately owned . .303 rifles. * l "I would point out," said Mr. Fraser, "that there are now at least 100,000 men in the Home Guard and the arming of this large force, at any time a difficult task, in existing circumstances presents a major problem. It is therefore regarded as imperative that every rifle in the country should be made available to the Government so as to ensure that so far as it is humanly • possible to do so, the home defence forces are adequately trained and equipped to meet any situation which might arise. LEAVE TO RETAIN RIFLES. "The impressment order now issued covers all privately owned .303 calibre • rifles of all makes, designs, and pat- : eras, and it should be noted that even [(unserviceable rifles of this calibre must be handed in as, apart from their value L for training purposes, it is" quite possible that they can be repaired. "Any person may be granted leave; , to retain his rifle until further notice \ if he can satisfy the Minister of National Service that it is urgently required. Eor example,. a farmer who is . 1 unable to join the Home Guard may be ■ allowed to retain his rifle, for the pur- ' poseVof protecting his property from 1 the n^yages of deer, or pigs. Such ap- ' plications must be made in writing to ! the local police officer on or before May 15, 1941. . i "It is particularly desired that no ' person should suffer personal loss or. 1 hardship by v reason of the temporary loss of the possession of his rifle. Any ' applications for retention on these grounds or on the.ground of national I interest will be investigated. by com- ; petent Departmental officers and will . receive careful consideration. Rifles in . the possession of active members of > the Home Guard will be formally taken over in accordance with instructions issued to officers of the Home Guard and such members will be allowed, if i they so desire, to retain possession, but i [they are required to notify the local >( police officer in each instance. ; j TO BE HELD ON LOAN. ' ■ : "Each rifle will be held on loan and ; | will be returned in good order and !', condition or will bs. replaced.; by .one, ji of similar pattern and 'of equivalent I value as soon as possible after the' emergency ends, while compensation I'will be paid for any deterioration in i • the condition of the rifle during. the , [period it is held by the Government. j "Individual notification ,is being • . j given to all registered owners but it j should be noted that the fact tliat a j personal notification is not received ' j'does not absolve the individual from. l the necessity for complying with the [ impressment order. "From what I have said it should be. obvious that the decision to impressl all .303 riflss was impeled only by urgent necessity, and that those con- '' kerned are being.asked to sacrifice only I the temporary possession of their .'rifles. "In \ conclusion," . said the Prime Minister, "I would ask those who have ' rifles in their possession to take them ' to the nearest police station without 1 delay. By doing this they will greatly , assist the Government and will be contributing towards the national war 1 effort."' . '• ."