REGISTERING A PEA-RIFLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19390, 27 July 1926, Page 6

REGISTERING A PEA-RIFLE.

Sir,—As following prosecution may prove interesting, amusing and instructive to many readers, I shall he pleased if you will kindly publish the following particulars in connection therewith. Last Christmas my son, who is 16 years of age and still at school, spent his vacation in South Canterbury. While there he received as a gift an old rusty pea-rifle which he cleaned and put in order. On returning to school last February, I found that through ignorance of the regulations regarding firearms, he failed to register within the required period. The earliest opportunity was taken to visit the police station. Auckland, to put the matter right. My son made a straightforward and voluntary statement as to how he came into possession of the pea-rifle, expressing regret that through not being acquainted with the Act, l>e had technically broken the law, and in order to conform to the regulations he wished to have the pea-rifle registered. This was duly done. To my surprise, and, I may add, my indignation, a fortnight ago my son was served with two separate charges for being in possession of a pearifle without having same registered within the prescribed time. Now, here is a lad who, through ignorance of the Act, commits a breach, but as soon as he understands the position, comes forward of his own free will and informs the police. Notwithstanding this honesty of purpose the police resolve to prosecute. I wonder if the officer responsible considered for one moment what the moral effect might be in the future ? Surely this is a case which would have been more honoured in the breach than in the observance ? I have always held the police in admiration and respect, the members of which, as a whole, are imbued with intelligence and common sense. But to my mind a more glaring case of crass stupidity and unnecessary excess of zeal it would be hard to conceive. Needless to add the magistrate took a sensible view and dismissed the case.

WALTER COATH.