PEA RIFLE DENOUNCED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 297, 8 May 1913, Page 8

PEA RIFLE DENOUNCED.

•. ALSO THE BOY BEHIND IT. Wellington, Yesterday. "It is an astounding thing that uu> authorities have not Had it übol.Blh.tr long ago," said Mr. Parker, of Chusi church, when moving that a Bill i.« promoted for the prohibition of the \kj. Title, at the conference of the tii/ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Ani- ,' mala, hold yeesterday. _ The speaker istated that a surprising number of accidents had occurred during the past few years, through tho use of this wea* ■ pon by young boys. Not only luul human beings lost their lives,.but som* valuable stock had also been shot. Mr.'Hankins (Palnierston North), thought that this was not a matter for the society to deal with, but ou« which should be dealt with in the Poiic* Offences Act. There was no doubl, Ujwever that the use of the pea rifle should be prohibited amongst boya. Mr. Parker remarked that he had heard of cases of young boys deliberately shooting at live stock with pea ; rifle*. There was often an air of care- , lessness on the part of a boy armed ; with a pea rifle. ! Mr. Hankins stated that he had spoken to the motion because he did , not think it was, in general, a question. for the society. He quite agreed that the pea rifle was a deadly thing, and that its use amongst boys should be prohibited. The society also would be quite justified in taking 'action in cases of cruelty to stock. At this stage it was mentioned that it was an offence against the law for ] ■ a boy under 16 to have a pea rifle in his possession. In reply, Mr. Parker said that he was e quite willing to withdraw his motion, s ' but he thought that somebody should , take the matter up. The motion was accordingly withdrawn, and it was decided to place the following resolution on record: "That members of this conference express their accord of the desire of the Canterbury Society to suppress the use of • I the pen rifle by the youth of the Do- ,! minion." d | _