MINISTER ORDERS RETURN OF SEIZED FIREARM

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 August 1947, Page 6

MINISTER ORDERS RETURN OF SEIZED FIREARM

Except in special circumstances, firearms seized by rangers in connection with breaches of the Animals Protection and Game Act, 1921-22 are to be returned to their owners and there can be no question of confiscation until the matter has been decided by the Minister of Internal Affairs, who has already given a general direction that the firearms are to be returned.

This information was contained in a letter received from the assistant Under-Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs (Mr A. G. Harper) by the council of the Grey District Acclimatisation Society at its meeting last evening. The department acknowledged receipt of advice from the society regarding a recent, prosecution at Greymouth lor the shooting of native pigeons and directed that the rifle seized should be returned to the owner.

The letter was received, the secretary (Mr M. R. Bunt) reporting that he had returned Ihe rifle to the owner, as directed. There was an attendance of 12 members at the meeting, Mr H. Roberts presiding. It was left to the ranger to take further action against sawmill owners who had not remedied the position in regard to sawdust pollution of streams, after the expiration of the month’s notice given in writing. The chatirman reported that several members, the secretary and himself had taken advantage of an invitation from the Westland Society to visit Lake Kanieri and had witnessed the planting of IOO.OfIO eyed ova of rainbow trout. It was decided to forward a letter of thanks to the Westland Society.