RIFLE SHOOTING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 44, 15 November 1907, Page 6

RIFLE SHOOTING.

RIFLE SHOOTING. STATEMENT BY THE MAYOR OF AUCKLAND. Auckland, November ; 14. In the course of some remarks on rifle shooting in the House on Wednesday, the lion. R. M'Nab (Minister for Defence), pointed out that the municipal bodies had under Section 361 of the Municipal Corporation Act 1900, legal authority to encourage riile shooting. The matter was brought under tho notice of the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. Myers) to-day. Tho Mayor said if any practical scheme was placed before tho Council it would receive favourable consideration. .The responsibility, however, of drawing up a scheme would rest with tho clubs or Volunteering authorities. By giving encouragement to rifle shooting the Council would be promoting, not only what should be considered, like football a national pastime, but bo helping to lay the foundation of a nation trained to arms. Though the Council's funds for such a purpose woro limited, tho Mayor said he realised that civic recognition of sucli an excellent form of sport, as well as a necessary training for tho defence of- the, country, would have the effect of popularising and raising the status of rifle shooting to a considerable degree. Military institutions of all kinds should tend in the direction of encouraging civic virtues and a national spirit, attributes which were so much to be desired in all soneratione.