RIFLE CLUBS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1511, 6 August 1912, Page 5

RIFLE CLUBS.

CONFERENCE WITH THE GENERAL PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. Representatives from rifle clubs ill all parts of New Zealand met Major-GeneraJ A. J. Godley, C.8., general officer com ' muuding the Now Zealand Forces, in coik . fereuco yesterday, at his invitation, tc ' discuss the question of posting surplus Territorials to vifle clubs and matters affecting the interests of.rifle clubs and ride shooting generally. In addition to thu General, there were present: Colonel L. .. S. Heard, Director of Staff! Duties- and ■ Militavy Training;'Licut.-Colonfcl "Jf. T. Buruett-Stuart, D.5.0., Director of Military Operations; Colonel R. J. Collins, executive officer of tho Dominion ltiflo Association; Captain R. 0. Chesney, Assistant Adjutant-General; and Captain J. 1!. Duigaii, X.Z.S.C. The following wero the delegates:—New Zealand Rillo Club's Executive (Wellington): Messrs.-11. -Marshall, \V. ilobbs, -\V. Judd, K. Gallichan, Hurridge, Shannon, Macdonald, and H. 0. Browne (general secretary for Now Zealand), W.' Welch (Opaki), Q; Loveday (Olmra), Hill (Xew riymouth), Broughton (Rajigitikei), .1, Rivers (Hastings), '13. Cavr (Kaeo), F.' Muoro (Auckland), M'Jnman (To' Aroha), Miller (Blenheim), Ouartermain (Wanganui), Sotheran (Greyniouth), Scarlo (Invercargill), Logan (Dunedin), Harford (Fc-ilding), lligains (Timaru), Duthie (Chnstchurch), Masefiekl (Sounds), and-'' Mong (Ngatiawa). The confcrenca was mostly of a privnte nature. ' ! "Fathering tho Youths." : >• ••' In opening the proceedings General God., ley said he desired to s?o tho rillo clubs an integral part of tho defence forces, nml> to know that they wero really and properly talcing their share in tho defence of tho- country. _Ho .was anxious to see tho rifio clubs a genuine .tecond lino to the territorial forces. The Territorial force, roughly speaking, could only tako in about CO per cent, of thoso, liable .for. service. There were only about 5 por-ccnt.-really nnfit for . training, leaving 35 per cent. of tlioso liable for training for posting to clubs. Tho youths .would arrive in tho clubs without uniforms, arms, or equipment— without anything. That was the position they had to face. Thero was no possibility at tho present time of issuing to tlies'o youths a coin.plot« ; outfit.- It was all they :>■■ could do at present Io make two end.? meet in regard to; the Territorial t'orco. and senior cadets. Ho wanted tho rills club-officials and old members to "father" tho youths-posted to their clubs.- Ho would bo able, just now to givo only a very small percentage of rifles to the youths so posted: ' - A Working Arrangement. An adjournment of two hours then took place, to afford tho rifio club men an opportunity of talking over tho Genornls proposals, while tho latter was also handed various requests for consideration. On resuming, a working arrangement was arrived at. Tho clubs promised to givo ■ every assistance to tho Defence Department in the matter of teaching tho compulsory members of clubs how to shoot, it being definitely shown that tho .voluntary members of rifio clubs would bo under no hardship whatever. It. was also urged upon the General that tho abolition, of tho i'reo railway pass for a distance limited to 100 miles would practically mean tho death of rifio associations as at present constituted. Tho General stated.;.'.:' that lie wished to encourage tho formation of area group and dislrict meetings, where the shooting would bo turn, larger extent carried out on strictly military lines. To such meetings competitors within tho area, group, or ,district, as the • case might be, would bo ■ granted railway passes, but ho could not. see his way to recommend such for un-. authorised meetings. The retention of tho black and white bull's-oyo for tho championship'series at tho Dominion Rifio Association meoting was strongly argued .'by.-tho"'delegates. All tho representatives - stood firm on this point. General Godley said ho would not give, a decision-without again consulting with tho executive ■ of' the D.R.A., but:., if he did give way it would be with great ' - reluctance. D.R.A. Control. The r[Uoslion of the constitution of tlvo , , Executive Committor of tlw D.R.A. was - --• also discussed, it., being: agrocd that tho competitors at tho Trail ham championship meeting should in future select llireo representatives annually to act on tho executive, and that they should play air active part, in tho drawing up oi tho 'i annual programme. To nie?t this year's case, tho delegates present were asked to select ,the. three representatives—iu,. the past; two rillo club men liavo been*.' appointed by the Commandant—President* H. Marshall (ICarorj), • \V. X. Masellold (Sounds) and W. Welch (Opaki) being . chosen. Tho visiting delegates expressm! {hems-elves satisfied in every way with tho result of their delilierations. Tho executive entertained tho visiting delegates at lunch' yesterday, and appreciative reference was inado to 'tho Dxe'cutivo Committee, ■ " through whoso efforts tho. conference wao • • brought about. .