Thread: Could we do more

Historically (mid-60's), I got my 'first' FAL.
Wanted to get a cutdown milsurp 303, had to get a 'Permit to Procure', pay and collect rifle.
Take said purchase, PTP and FAL to local station for registration within 72 hours (I think).
At the station, the sergeant recorded all the above information and checked that I actually knew how to strip and reassemble the rifle.
A few questions to make sure I had an understanding of safe firearms use (some of the 7 principles were hammered very hard back then).
'Off you go son - if you get something, you know where the 'cop shop' is' - nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more.
After a shot of 'common sense' in the Beehive, the single page license disappeared and the 'little red book' came into existence.
Go to private seller/retailer, show your red book, record the details in the back (in front of the seller), he'd record your red book number in his red book and cross that rifle off his list of firearms (in the back of his red book).
While very 'manual', the system worked really well and all was roses.
We decided that the future held more promise in Aus., so sold all the rifles, using the above system (still have my little red book - changed I used to think because of the link to a certain Asian country's leader and his political leanings).
On our return recently - lo and behold - despite working for 15 years, IRD couldn't find my tax file number - so had to get a new one.
Drivers license - same result.
Applied for a new FAL - records kept and cost increased by $100 over a 'new application', as the old FAL was lapsed and only needed the MSC course to get it back - new number of course.
So records are useful, when applied 'intelligently'.