A CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1383, 8 March 1912, Page 6

A CONFERENCE.

THE GENERA I, AND THE RIFLE CLUBS. Yesterday morning representatives of the various rillo clubs in New Zealand met Jlajor-lieneral A. J.. Uodley, C.B. (Commandant of the New Zealand Forces), and discussed certain mailers affecting their interests. The conference was a private one. Amongst the questions touched upon were the issue of rifles to clubs, stronger representation for competitors upon tho Executive Council of the Dominion Rillo Association, and tho ((ucstion of (lie proposed posting \of youths between 18 and 21 who could not Ite enrolled in the Territorial Force to rifle clubs. Regarding this latter point, General Godloy showed very keen interest, and asked for a full and free discussion on the mutter. He told tho delegates that he wished to know exactly what the opinion of the clubs was. He explained his scheme in detail, showing I hat by the, posting of surplus Territorials to the rifle clubs no hardship would be imposed upon the clubs, and that no interference with their existing rights would result. .Members so ponied would not have the He,h( to interfere with the management of the clubs. He further pointed out that he only wauled two iines of defence—the Territorials and their reserves ns the first, line, and the rillo clubs as the second line. He wanted no third line, anil that was his reason for suggesting that tho »ii>->lub Territorials who could not be

trained with tho required Territorial units should he given some sort of training, and lie attached to riflo chilis. The delegates, alter hearing General Oiodlev's explanation, replied that they agreed with the principle of his scheme, • and saw no reason why it should not bo adopted. General Godley said he had now definitely decided, in view of the opinions expressed by the delegates, to go on with the scheme. In regard to the issue of rifles, it was shown by tho club men's representatives that it was u great hardship at the present timo that no rifle? could he issued, although the money wai uvflilnble for their payment. He undertook to cable Home for a. supply, which' would be on issue to rifle clubs as soon as it arrived. In respect to the issue of free railway passes to men who wished (o compete at rifle meetings, the Commandant stated that many of the meetings had no definite military value, but where programmes were approved by General Heud(inarters he did not think there would bo any trouble in issuing passes. He desired' to make Trontham the New Zealand Hythe, and he would consider tho matter ot' the Executive Council of the association being elected by the competitors. • The question of bull's-eye shooting and service shooting was also discussed, and General Godlcv said he would consider for future meetings whether there should bo two separate.' grades—one for service shoting only, carrying with it the service championship, and the other for stationary target shooting. . He could not make, any definite promise in regard to having some of the executive members elected by tho competitors, and said that since ho had arrived in New Zealand he had made it his business to see that rille clubs wero better represented on the Executive Council than they had been in the past.