ARMS PROSECUTIONS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 1222, 10 June 1919, Page 5

ARMS PROSECUTIONS.

PROCEEDINGS STAYED LETTER FROM THE MINISTER. A further development in connection with the charges relating to dealing in arms, which have created a great deal of local interest, has occurred.

One firm was charged with failing to keep a book as required by Statute, and another with dealing in arms without a license. The cases have been re en ended from time to time as the matter had been brought under the notice of the Minister for Justice (Hon. T. M. Wilford), by the Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce, which urged the view that the offences were really technical and the punishment was extremely severe (four years' imprisonment or a fine of £100.) This morning the Chamber of Commerce received the following letter from the Minister: —"I beg to inform you that it was found that Mr W. S. Cato had been dealing in arms and explosives without complying with the provisions of the War Regulations and the Explosive and Dangerous Goods Act He was previously prosecuted and convicted on several charges. When a permit was issued under the War Regulations for the sale of an automatic pistol, the Sergeant of Police, who had only recently taken charge of the Te Kuiti station, assumed that Mr Cato held a license under the Arms Act. He subsequently discovered that Mr Cato did not have a license, and proceedings were taken under the Arms Act. In view, however, of the nature of the transaction, and the fact that the case would have to be dealt with by the Supreme Court, it has been decided to enter a stay of proceedings under the provisions of Section 65 of the Arirs Act.''