ARMS ACT AMENDED

Evening Star, Issue 20321, 1 November 1929, Page 13

ARMS ACT AMENDED

SEVERE REGULATIONS RELAXED [Per United Press Association-! WELLINGTON, October 31. In moving the second reading of the Arms Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives to-night, the Minister of Justice (Mr Wiiford) stated that the measure was designed to relax the severity of the regulations affecting firearms. There would be no necessity in future to register ordinary sporting guns, and members of rifle clubs would not have to register their rifles. On the other hand, dealers would be required to keep a register of all sales, and thffi could be inspected by the police. The Minister added that he could not see the necessity for anyone in Now Zealand to have a revolver or an automatic pistol, and there would be no change in the regulations so far as these weapons were concerned, if it were shown between now and next session that a pea rifle should be declared an unlawful weapon a clause to that effect could later be included. He did hot say, however, that such a course would be necessary. Mr Wiiford stated that the restrictions on the use of powder for blasting were also relaxed. In future a dealer would be required to keep a register of sales of powder in the same way as applied to sporting weapons. .... ■Mr J. A. Young (Waikato) stated that the Bill would be appreciated by sportsmen and riflemen throughout the country. Colonel T. W. McDonald (Wairarapa), who congratulated the Minister on introducing this _ legislation, stated that it was astonishing how much the administration of tho Arms Act had cost the country. • Mr W. E. Tarry (Auckland Central) described the Arms Act as an absurd piece of legislation, and welcomed the changes embodied in the Bill. Mr R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) expressed appreciation that the restrictions relating to revolvers and pistols had been retained. He asked the Minister whether anything would be done to obviate the necessity for the observance of so many regulations in the cases of rifles and pistols kept as souvenirs of the war. Air Wiiford: On application by the owners J. shall have power to sign a printed form which will free them from further interference. Replying to Mr H. S. S. Kyle (lliccartoai), the Minister stated that a similar permit could be obtained to retain antiquated weapons, etc. Mr W. G. Barnard (Napier) said he thought tho Bill would be popular. He agreed that it was wise to retain the restrictions relating to revolvers and automatic pistols. The Bill was read a second tune without division, and was then puvthrough committee with minor amendments, read a third time, and passed.