RIFLE CLUBS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1113, 28 April 1911, Page 3

RIFLE CLUBS.

THE RECENT CONFERENCE. AXD THE RESULT. During (lie period of /he tef AV.v Zealand' rifle championship meeting at Trentham, representatives of rifle clubs from all over the Dominion held a conference on matters affecting their interests, and a strios of resolutions was sent forward under care of llr. W. 11. Field, M.P.. to the Minister for Defence for his consideration, jlr. Field has now received the following reply, under the hand of the AcriiiT-iUinister' for Detpr.ee (the Hon. G. I'owlds.l, b the resolutions (the tenor of these, which were published in The Dominion at. tho , conclusion of the conference is indicated in the reply): 1. Tho General Officer Commanding the Forces, from a great deal of experience in the colonies, is fully alive to tho value of rifle clubs. Far 'from their being neglected, as your letter suggests, they will lie very carefully legislated for in the new regulations. The obligatory acceptance of a certain liability for service by active members of rifio clubs under the Defence Act gives them a definite place in the military forces; members will therefore bo required to carrv out a short prescribed course of musketry anniiiilly lo ensure their fitness lo discharge that liability, and will bo given the necessary facilities for doing so. 2. No maximum age for members of rifle clubs has yet been fixed. The age will bo that considered by the military authorities to be most suitable in viw,of tho liability for service accepted Inactive members, ami will certainly ho higher than that which you suggest. 3. The question of His issue or snlo of rifles to members of rifle clubs by (he lJclViici> Itejiarlnient must bo goveriied by the, more- 'immediate question rf armiiiß ( Jio new territorial force. II trill receive every consitioralion; but it mu»t bi- mnoiiibural that rifles railnot beobtained from England at short notice. ■I. The question of railins; .immnnitiivi for villi! clubs free of charge will be considered. a. As regards uniforms, all available resources of the Department .-ire now required to clothe the territorial force and senior cadets. A pattern of Mrvicc dress to ba worn by mem tars of rifle clubs will bo laid down in the clothing regulations, but its provision by members will be optional. "Uniforms will not be issued free to members of riilc clubs. The question of the purchase, eventually, of material from or through the Department will be considered. G. The scab of allowances for rifio clubs will be laid down in the regulations. The price of supplies, must be governed by the conditions prevailing in the Dominion. 7. The question of representation of rifle clubs on the executive of the Dominion lfille Association is one for the Dominion iiillo Association to decide. 8. The question of the appointment, when the active membership of a club exceeds thirty, of a deputy-president who shall be recognised as an oflieer, is not quite understood. Only in exceptional circumstances can a rifle club exist with fewer than thirty active members. Each club has its president, office-bearers, and committees, but none of these ean bo recognised as an ofiicti outside the club or wear the uniform of an officer unless he holds or has held a permanent or territorial commission; appointments to commissions will be governed by the regulations, which do not admit of the granting of commissions to officials of rifle clubs as such.