ARMS ACT

Northern Advocate, 12 June 1931, Page 2

ARMS ACT

NEW REGULATIONS. (Special to "Nortnern Advocate.*’> WELLINGTON, This Day. An Order-in-Council giving new regulations under the Arms Act, 1920, / was gazetted yesterday. The new regulations cover a number of machinery clauses facilitating easier handling by the Police Department. In the old regulations "police districts' ' were referred to, but in the new' regulations the term "districts" has been omitted and-the term "nearest superintendent or inspector" substituted. Under the new regulations a license to carry a pistol, which, formerly applied only in the police district where such license was issued, now covers the area specified in the license. The new Act makes provision for amendments made by Parliament last year, when shotguns were exempted from registration. Under the old Act a certificate of registration of firearms only had effect in the district where it Avas issued,. whereas under the new regulations such certificates will have effect throughout the Dominion. This will obviate the necessity of registration on change of abode from one district to another. A new section of the new regulations provides, however, that every

registered* owner of firearms wfio changes his place of abode must notify the authorised officer nearest his new residence within 30 days. The old regulations provided for a period of seven days only.' The new regulations stipulate that when the owner of a registered firearm intends to remove it from New Zealand he must notify the authorities three clear days before such removal, and surrender his certificate of registration. Ho must also notify the nearest authority whenever a registered firearm, is lost, stolen or destroyed, and also surrender his certificate. In connection with licensed dealers, the record of ammunition sold will not include that for shotguns, but there is no alteration in reapect of the regulations governing rifles or ammunition for them. The fees payable under the new regulations for the registration of firearms and licenses to retain unlawful weapons have been slightly increased.