ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF FIREARMS.

Shannon News, 26 February 1929, Page 2

ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF FIREARMS.

GERMAN AUTOMATIC—-WAK TROPHY.

When Maurice Alex. Black landed in New Zealand on October 29th, 1928, he declared a shot gun but overlooked the fact that he had a German Luger automatic pistol, a trophy of the war, stowed away at the bottom of one of his trunks. As automatics are illegal weapons in New Zealand, the police had no other course but to institute a prosecution when subsequently Black disclosed the presence of the pistol. The charge was heard in the Palmerston North Court on Monday, when defendant pleaded guilty. Mr. McLeavey, counsel for defendant, said his client had no intention of trying to evade the law. He had taken the shot gun to get it registered and it was only when asked by the police if he had any other weapons that he remembered the automatic, which he had taken from a German during the war and treasured because of that fact. | He had taken the pistol to the police as requested but now asked that the weapon be not forfeited. The Magistrate: Can I allow him to keep it? Senior-Sergeant Whitehouse: It is an unlawful weapon. Mr. MeLeayey stated that defendant intended to apply to the Minister for permission to retain it. Mr. Merton intimated at this stage that there was a clause in the Arms Act by which a person could keep a weapon in circumstances similar to k the present ease. Mr. Stout S.M.: Perhaps it had better remain in hands of the police meanwhile and be forfeited unless the Minister says otherwise. An order was made accordingly, his worship adding that he did not think the case was one for penalty.