Classic rifle collectors should not be punished

AS expected, the rushed Firearms Amendment Bill, which has now passed into law, has stupidly banned a very useful class of firearms for no sensible reason.

These are the semiautomatic, purposebuilt hunting rifles represented by the likes of the Browning BAR which, depending on calibre, can only hold three or four cartridges in its magazine and bears no resemblance whatsoever to an MSSA.

Even worse, from a collector’s point of view, the rare (only 4913 were made) Browning Model 1900, dating from the beginning of last century and only chambered for an obsolescent cartridge, is to be banned and destroyed.

Included on the banned list will be the series of Winchester semiautomatic rifles, all dating from early last century, which use obsolete ammunition that is as rare as the firearms.

Banning these classic hunting rifles makes no sense but is to be expected from a government that has no experience in firearms and can’t even get the terminology right. A ‘‘gun’’ is a smoothbore shotgun, not a rifle.

Keith Mitchell

Waihola

Water permits

MAY I thank whoever justifiably leaked the report on the ORC’s inevitable failure to comply with the 2021 deadline for transition from deemed permits to fully consented water usage.

The ORC leadership’s attempt to conceal this latest report on council incompetence from public scrutiny simply reinforces a litany of council failures around water permits.

By way of example, how can a minimum flow be determined on the Manuherikia River by the ORC without knowledge of whether the rebuild of the Falls Dam goes ahead at a cost in the vicinity of $60 million of private money?

Who will then own or have exclusive use rights to the water behind the privatelyowned dam wall?

Can the chairman also confirm that the Lindis River process has cost those locals over $1 million to convince the ORC it is wrong over its minimum flow proposal only to have the ORC join the water users’ case in the Environment Court?

Gerrard Eckhoff

Alexandra

[ORC policy, science and strategy acting general manager Andrew Newman replies:

‘‘The ORC has adopted a thorough and systematic approach to creating a fresh water regulatory framework for the Manuherikia through a plan change process that includes public consultation, iwi values, and economic and social perspectives.

‘‘Our objective is to have this plan notified in time for the transition of deemed permits to consents, subject to achieving a level of consensus between the directlyaffected parties.

‘‘Two groups are being set up to enable constructive community dialogue on the issues facing the Manuherikia community — a technical advisory group and a community reference group. The ORC is very keen to ensure the various parties have a say about their catchment, and that sensible solutions are found to enable an enduring water management framework.

‘‘A robust regulatory framework may well assist in creating a more certain environment within which the Falls Dam might be financed and rebuilt.

‘‘The Lindis Catchment Group has publicly commented on the costs of the Environment Court appeal; see ODT 7.12.18 ‘Lindis River issue costing almost $3m’.’’]

Lime scooters

WHY are we tolerating Lime scooters? They are too fast for the pavements and too slow for the road, and a hazard on either.

They clutter up the pavement and make access difficult for people in wheelchairs or people with youngsters in pushchairs.

They are of no value except corporate profit. Time for a ban, I think.

Dave Charters

Waitati