FINAL CEREMONY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1693, 8 March 1913, Page 6

FINAL CEREMONY.

THE SPEECHES. PRIME MINISTER AND OTHERS. j Quite soon and sharp after Rifleman James had placed the result of the final for the Belt beyond doubt, he was chaired to the dais, where tho presentation of prizes was to tako place. After ho had been photographed by a number of camera men, the spectators gathered round to witness the presentation ceremony, which was made the time for somo speeches appropriate to the occasion. COLONEL COLLINS. PLEASED WITH STATE GRANT.

Colonel Collins, who was the first speaker, expressed great pleasure at seeiDg Mr. Massey present. This was the first occasion on which the Prime Minister had visited the range, and ho had no doubt corao to tho conclusion that day that tho Government had a very valuable asset in the property. It was one of tho finest ranges in the world, and there was no range in the Southern Hemisphere that could come up to Trentham, where the test man generally finished on top. Tho present meeting had been a good one except in tho matter of entries. Some excellent scores had been made. Several "possibles" had been registered, including some at 800 yds. aud at 1000 yds., this proving conclusively that New Zealand can produce some excellent shots. There was another side to, tho meeting. Many mc-n went there, ' not with an idea of gaining trophies or prizes, but of renewhig old friendships. They shot witli little liopo of success, but met old friends, and, though defeated, they came up the next year smiling. The association was, Colonel Collins said, pleased with the Government grant of .£750, and this, with a grant of ammunition worth .ESOO, meant a cash valuo of <£12f)0 to the expenses. In addition tho Government provided markers and also equipment in the shape of tents, and this saved the association a considerable sum of money. Jieferring to tho service matches, Colonel Collins remarked that they had been carried out witli much greater success than previously, and had been instructive to competitors, Next year it was hoped there would be a much larger entry. In conclusion he emphasised tho value of inarching and drilling, as well as shooting, and expressed the opinion that any young man should be pleased lo feel ho was doing something for the defence of his country. Mrs. M-.i.wy was then inlrodured, ami presented the prizes to tho successful .competitors.

PRIME MINISTER. "EMERGENCIES WILL OCCUR." Tiio Prime Minister (the Hon. W. F. Massey) subsequently spoke a few words. Ho'lmd responded to the request to bo present- with a great deal of pleasure, and congratulated Colonel Collins and the prize winners on .tlie success of the mooting. Speaking generally of the competitors, lie felt sure that whether they won or lost they would accept the result with equanimity and in tho proper spirit. In tho matter of defence generally, this country oweil a debt of gratitude to tlioso men connected with tho association. One's memory need not go back very lons ago to the time when the- Umpire called for tlioso who could ride and shoot. Among those who gave a particularly good account of themselves were the young men from this, country who went to South Africa. One tiling was certain: emergencies would occur and it was the duty of every'young man to be ready when the emergency came alone;. Ilp left sure tlicy would be. Colonel Collins luul remarked •that.'this'was his (the Prime Minister's) first meeting. lie hoped and believed that' it would not be his last. In the 'J'rentham range they had an asset, not merely of local importance, but of great national value. He was confident that that was not the last meeting that would be held, there. HON. R. H. RHODES. MUSKETRY INSTRUCTION. Tho Acting-Minister for Defence (the Hon. iR. H. Rhodes) congratulated Colonel Collins on the way in which the meeting had been conducted and upon the success that had attended it. Hu alto congratulated tho prize winners and other competitors 011 the parts they lmd taken. He knew that from Colonel Collins's point of view, the meeting had not been thb success it might have been because the entries had only totalled 350 against GOO two years ago.' But they must not expect to find veteran shots in the Territorials all at once as they used to bo found in the volunteers and ritle clubs, lie had been connected with a number of rifle associations, as patrou and with tho district. Banks Peninsula, which had turned out so many good shots. Ho was glad to seo a few representative's from that district at this meeting and hoped thcro would be more of them in future years. It was with interest that 110 read tho comments that had been passed 011 the meeting. 'It liad been said that rifle shooting ■ did not receive sufficient encouragement. Personally, ho thought that General Godley took as great an interest in rille shooting as in the other branches of defence, and when initial difficulties were overcome the Territorials would hold their own in the. shooting world with members of the rifle clubs. They-had entered freely in the service competitions and shown, great interest.

Then it had been said that wo devoted too much time to training and not enough, to musketry—that 80 per cent. of the soldier's instruction should be musketry. But thero were a great many other things to be taken into consideration. • They could not make soldiers of tho Territorials by shooting only. They must lie drilled and disciplined. It would be found that ns the cadets enmo on tlicy would bccoino efficient shots., llrs. Godley had inaugurated. a very line scheme to iiromotc riilo shooting among cadcts. Later on tho cadets would pass on to tho Territorials' and then the rifle clubs.

Referring again to the comments that had been passed, tho Minister added that it was to be regretted that those musketry instructors we had with us" had not been able to devote the whole of their time to musketry instruction. . There was now a scheme under consideration wherein it had been suggested that a musketry instructor should bo appointed for each district. Ho was not now going to mako any definite statement, but would wait until tho return of General Godley. 110 would give an indication, however, thut the Government would appoint one musketry instructor to each district, and they would.havo time to give Territorials tho instruction and encouragement necessary for them in their own- district. Then when the latter were efficient they would be able to come there and compete with the champions. • In conclusion, tho Minister said that he would not be present as Minister for Defence next year, as Mr. Allen would lis back, but he hoped he would have tho pleasure of being present as an oulooker and that ho would seo them in increased numbers. Finally, Colonel Collins expressed the thanks of the association to thoso officers and men who had assisted in the. conduct of the meeting.