THE BISLEY MEETING

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2211, 25 July 1914, Page 5

THE BISLEY MEETING

SHOOTING FOR THE KING'S • PRIZE. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright ■'.-■■'■■ ' London, July 23. _The weather for the shooting at the National Rifle Association meeting . at Bisley was difficult. The following are tho ■ individual scores , of the Australians at the first range of tho' St. George's Challenge Vase , contest (15 shots at 600 and.9oo- - 47; Harrison, 46; Jamieson, 45; Bagley, 44; Parsons, 44; Halliday, 43; Grice, 43; Timmens, 41; Long, 41; Hubbardj 41; Cross, 40; Meers, 40; Trenberth, 38 : ; Ferguson, 38. Macalister and Harrison have qualified for thesocond stage, for which Janiieernv shoots off in the ties. ' -. ■ . Hyan (Australia} qualified for the , second stage of the King's Prize (10 shots at 300 and 600 yards) m the shoot off. ,\VAR OFFICE ASKED TO CONSENT TO A COMPROMISE. London, July 23. . Colonel' Morrett has drafted a letter to the council of the National Rifle' Association, explaining tho Australian and other Dominions' objections to the War Office's proposed changes. The War Office will be asked, as a compromise, .to accept a qualifying shoot for the King's Prize under service conditions, and .conduct the actual competition as at present. , - .-...■.'.

Although not represented at Bisley, New ■ Zealand riflemen are displaying keen interest in tho result of the conference between the War Office and the Rifle Association Council, , at which the former body brought forward its .pro. posals regarding (he inclusion of service matches;in the King's Prize competition. The/ Australian!.! and Canadians refused to agree to anj , alteration being made, on the ground that it would be disastrous to rifle clubs, which were the countries' second line of defence. This attitude is the subject of favourable comment among local riflemen, and with the object of having; their views expressed at Home, the executive of tho Dominion Rifle Asso-. ciation met and decided to send tho following cablegram to the commander of the Australian team-.—"New Zealand riflo clubs strongly support Australians against Bisley alteration." This is the first occasion on .which the oversea' Dominions have been enabled' to fully express their views on the subject, and with Canada, Australia, and . New Zealand standing firmly shoulder to shoulder, the event is a. notable one. The rineraen, of course, do not object to'tho service shooting, but they are not in favour of this beinjj in-' eluded in the cliief championship contest. Service championships are" held apart from the other events, and so long os they Temain senarated tho riflemen are apparently ■ satisfied.' "Service . versus bull's-eye" has been in' the limelight of shooting in this Dominion during the past few years, and the result of the War Office's aotiqn will, no doubt, have an important bearing on any further pro■pbsals by the Defence authorities in,this country. The matter is at present under consideration, and lending officials have been conferring, so that some important developments may be expected shortly. I