FIREARMS MENACE

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 July 1920, Page 5

FIREARMS MENACE

GOVERNMENT BILL,

PASSES WITHOUT AMENDMENT.

POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

(Special to the "Star.' ; )

PARE. BEDS, July 23.

The House quickly dealt with several government bills to-day the Gaming Act amendment being recivtd from the committee, read a third t me and passed. The Judicature amendment increasing Jud.es' salaries, and the Magistrate's Court amendment d >- ing similar service to magistrates were also passed. 3u moving the second reading of the Arms Bill the Premier stated that it incorporated provisions which iiad been in the Statutes the constitution was framed. It was also embed ed in the War Regulations on a subject which worked well and it was asked for urgently by the head of the police department, lite use of firearms seemed to have very largely increased during the last two year . During this period thera had been eight attempted murders, 60 suic : des and 70 cases of injury, 15 of which had resulted from the use of auto'matic pistols. These were undoubtedly dangerous, said the Premier. They ; -'d been described as pocket machine guns. They were to be declared unlawful and Ihe Government was prepared to compensate -those who had to give them up. Returned soldiers would be allowed to keep automatic pistols under a permit. Mr. Jennings : What about soldiers' relatives who have souvenirs The Premier: I will have something drafted to deal with this. He writ mi to say that the Bill was undoubtedly drastic. The police department had informed him that the carrying of pocket weapons was remarkably common. It was known that vis'tors to Parliament had been in the habit < f carrying firearms. He was not saying this to alarm members.

Mr. Forbes : Don't get the wind

up ! Mr. Holland : Do you mean the member for Oaki in connection with his revolution? Mr. Massey: The hon. member is livmg in a glass house. (Laughter). The Bill was put through all stages and passed without any amendment.