THE ARMS ACT

Otago Witness, Issue 4031, 16 June 1931, Page 6

THE ARMS ACT

NEW REGULATIONS' GAZETTED., WELLINGTON,'June 11. An Order-in-Couneil giving new regulations under the Arms Act, 1920, ia gazetted to-night. The new regulation® cover a number of machinery clauses,, facilitating easier handling by the PoliceDepartment. In the old regulations “ police districts ’’ are, referred to, but in the new regulations the term “ districts ” has been omitted, and the term ‘‘the 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 issued, whereas in section 29 of the new regulation such certificate will have effect throughout the Dominion. This will obviate the necessity for reregistration on a change of abode front one district to another. The next section of the new regulations provides, however, that every registered owner of firearms who changes his place of abode must notify the authorised officer nearest to his new residence within 30 days. The old regulation provided for a period of ■ seven days only The new regulation stipulates 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. He 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 respect of the regulation governing rifles or ammunition for them. The fees payable under the new regulations for the registration of firearms or licenses to retain unlawful weapons have been slightly increased.