BARNARD SAFETY GUN DEVICE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2368, 15 December 1921, Page 3

BARNARD SAFETY GUN DEVICE

Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., recently presenter! n petition to Pai'liament on behalf of the Barnard safety gun device. The Defence Committee referred the matter to the Government for favourable consideration. In .speaking in support of the petition, Mr Nash said that members would recall that a month or two ago, and also during the previous session, an exhibition of this patent safety device for a gun had been given in Parliament Buildings. ' The object of the petition was to ask the Government to bring in legislation to have the device attached to pea rifles in particular, firstly to help the invention, but also in the interests of the youth of the country by preventing the many accidents that took place every year. The patent was a very satisfactory one, and one which had been very favourably commented upon by those in a position.to speak. The Commissioner of Police had given a very fine testimonial as to the benefit this would .be to people using guns. The inventor of the safety device, Mr Barnard, had been in a fairly good way, but had spent all his money in bringing the patent to perfection. Mr Barnard wished to get legislation passed to enable a representative of a company which had taken up the patent (because Mr Barnard was unable to go any further with it) to travel to other parts and place the patent; but if they endeavoured to sell the patent elsewhere the first question that would be asked would be: “What are you dping about it in New Zealand?” It was therefore impracticable at present for representatives to leave New Zealand. The Defence Committee, after having had the patent explained to them, and an exhibition given, were apparently quite satisfied. ITe hoped that the Minister of Defence would, give this matter his consideration. If Ihe Government were not in a position at present to bring forward legislation dealing with the use of pea rifles, he hoped they would make some pronouncement and endeavour to bring in legislation next session. This would be the means of helping along the company, and particularly the man who had lost so much money in devising something |hat would be to the benefit of the youth of the Dominion.

The Committee’s recommendations were agreed to by the House.