Confiscated Arms

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 53, 5 March 1935, Page 4

Confiscated Arms

NGAERE CLAIM IN HOUSE ALARM OP THE PUBLIC Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 1. Unusual features were disclosed on the petition of Mr N. B. Fry day, Ngaere, Taranaki, for investigation into the seizure of Ids firearms and ammunition, which was reported on in the House today.' Tho committee said it had no recommendation to make.

Expressing disappointment at this finding, Mr W. J. Poison said that owing to some misunderstanding ho was not present when the matter was being deliberated by the committee. The petitioner was a well-known settler who had the hobby of collecting lirearms of all descriptions, which were exhibited at small gatherings. A few months ago the Government suddenly got nervous and tho police swooped down ‘on Mr Fryday and took all his lirearms away.

Mr Poison said ho could not understand where tho authorities got the impression that “this poor old man” was likely to be a danger to the community, but perhaps there was a feeling that he might have done something regrettable. The petitioner bitterly resented the coniiseation of his valuable collection.

Mr Coates: Were the firearms regis' tered? Mr Poison: Yes.

Mr It. A. Wright said the committee in considering the petition in Mr Poison’s absence thought thero was so little merit in the petition that they were doing Mr Poison a good turn by not waiting for him. The petitioner had a lot of shot guns, rifles, revolvers and two thousand rounds of ammunition. Mr A. M. Samuel: Armed to the teeth!

“Someone went up to his house,” said Mr Wright, “and the petitioner, seeing him coming, took out a gun. The visitor got behind a stump and the petitioner put two bullets into the stump, so tho visitor was glad to get behind it. It was high time tho guns and ammunition were taken from the petitioner.

Mr J. A. MacPherson, acting chairman of the committee, said the authorities wc-ro quite justified in taking charge of the arms collection because the whole neighbourhood had become very much alarmed at tho petitioner’s attitude. He was a man of 84 years of age and was past the stage for collecting firearms. Full justice would be done to lain, for at the expiration of 12 months certain arms could be returned, except revolvers, and those retained would be put up for auction and the proceeds paid to the owner. The Hon. J. G. Cobb said the police would not have been justified in allowing Mr Fryday to retain the collection. They had given a good deal of consideration to the matter and made many' inquiries becauso it had caused them somo concern.