GELIGNITE IN PAPER PARCEL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 121, 15 February 1921, Page 6

GELIGNITE IN PAPER PARCEL

A DANGEROUS PRACTICE UNDERGROUND WORK TO EVADE ARMS ACT There is more danger of explosions occurring in public places than many people realise. This was made clear by a discussion yesterday on a letter forwarded to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce by Messrs. IV. M. Bannatyne and Co. (dealers in ammunition and explosives). The firm wrote as follows: — ".Section 7 of the Arms Act, 1920, provides, inter alia: '(1) No person other than a. licensed dealer shall by way of purchase or in any other manner procure the possession of any firearm, ammunition, or explosive, save in the pursuance of a pennit issued to him in that behalf by an officer of police authorised in that behalf pursuant to regulations under the Act; (2) no person shall, whether by sal© or in any other manner, (deliver possession of any firearm, ammunition, or explosive to any person other than, a person entitled to obtain tho same by virtue of such a permit as aforesaid. (3) Nothing in this section shall apply to shot-guns of a kind ordinarily used in New Zealand for sporting purposes, or to ammunition ordinarily used for such shot guns.’ “Dealers in ammunition, gelignite, etc., amongst whom are included nearly all country storekeepers and hardware merchants, are thereunder compelled to obtain a permit to support each small order they may place for explosives, etc. We suggest that the purpose of the legislation would be fully met were the police given authority to grant a license to deal in such goods during (say) the ensuing six or twelve months, in lieu of separate permits. We do not suggest that the regulations as to the public purchasing from the stores and dealers should be relaxed in any degree whatever. Would you be good enough to make representations on these lines in the proper quarter?" Mr. 11. D. Bennett said he was very glad, to have tho opportunity of referring to this matter, as he was aware of a number of cases of hardship which the provisions of the Act had caused. In consequence of the restrictions placed on the sale of explosives in the ordinary way, people were working underground, and when they visited the city took gelignite wrapped up in brown paper parcels into the railway carriages. That was going on every day. Mr. C. M. Bowden thought that there would be no harm in giving storekeeperis permits to sell for six or twelve months. The regulations respecting sales to the ' public were quite right. The police could always see to whom a storekeeper was selling by the books he was bound to keep. Messrs. H. D. Bennett and H. D. Vickery (secretary) were appointed a committee to wait on the Minister concerned respecting the alleged hardship involved.