REDCLIFFS RIFLE RANGE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18409, 16 June 1925, Page 5

REDCLIFFS RIFLE RANGE.

■ ■■ . -—♦_— MORE ACCOMMODATION REQUIRED. The Minister of Defence, Sir E. Heatoii Rhodes, yesterday received a deputation from representatives of the Canterbury Eifle Association with respect to the question of better accommodation being provided at the Redcliffs rifle range. The deputation was introduced by Mr E. J. Howard, M.P. Major J. P. Oakes, president of the Association, said the various clubs afllliatod with the Association were handicapped because of the lack of sufficient accommodation at . the range. Owing to the present state of affairs, ,the clubs found it hard to compile their respective syllabuses. They were appreciative of Colonel R. Young, O.C. Southern Command, for the assistance he had given them, but until more targets wore provided inconvenience would bo caused when there was any shooting being carried out. Mr R. H. Neill, secretary of the Association, said the target accommodation was inadequate, and tho position was particularly noticeable at prize meetings. Another ten or twelve targets should be providod. If the mounds were extonded to the right there would be ample room to make the additions. Tho mounds generally were satisfactory with the exception of, that at 300 yards, which had been dug up by territorials and left in a rather.rough state. Mr A. C. Hullet, representing the Red-cliffs-Sumner Rifle Club, said that in wet weather it was almost impossible to use the short ranges. There was any amount of spoil about to meet all requirements in respect of extensions. As a matter of fact the principal requirement in the matter of extension was labour. ■ The Minister: Have you any idea what the cost would be? Major Oakes: We have not gone into it as a whole, but it will not be a very expensive item. -,,,., Colonel Young said that the position wns that great care had to be used when the ranges were being lired over. It would not do to allow the long ranges to be occupied by the rifle clubs when the territorials were at the short ranges. If any of the territorials were hit m such circumstances, there would be no alternative for him but to leave £ew Zealand. There were about 2200

trainees to bo put through rifle shooting each year. The range was closed down some time ago and the matter was gone into of opening up new butts at the foot of Cashmere Hills, but nothing further had beem done in this respect. There were six targots at the range which were unsafe, and fourteeu which were safe. "If wo could, get a range at Burnham," ho said smilingly, as he glanced first at the Minister and then at the deputation, "we could give you the lot." Mr H. Reynolds said that the clubs were desirous of getting some extra days on which to use the range. At present they did not get the use of the range often enough ou. Saturdays. Colonel Young said that the Defence Department found diflSculty in giving the clubs whole days on which to shoot over the range. Last year ho found the clubs had been able to use the range on 14 days. Mr Roynolds said that the clubs had a very short season. From January to March they did not have a single day allotted them. "It appears to mo that the whole difficulty is that rifle .shooting is too popular," said the Minister in reply. "I am not complaining of that: I want to see every man in the country handling ft rifle and learning to use it properly." He thought that the deputation could'leave it to Colonel Young and himself to go into the matter to do what thev could for them. How far the Department was prepared to go on with tho range at Burnham he was not prepared to say. Such a proposal would tako a lot of money. With regard to a proposal to make a reserve of the range, he said that this would iuvolvo closing down the range. The position wns that there was no immediate necessity to remove the range from Bedcliffs, the situation" of which suited the rifle clubs and the territorials as well. "I think I can promise you the extra accommodation," he concluded. • •