RIFLE CLUBS.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2758, 29 April 1916, Page 6

RIFLE CLUBS.

Sir,—-Regarding the Te Puke Defence Rifle Club and instruction for officers and non-commissioned officers, when the Rifle Club was formed Major M'Kenzie was present and acted as chairman of the meeting. It was agreed to form a rifle club to drill as a mounted squadron, and when the officers and noncommissioned officers were elected they were' told that they would be expected to qualify for the positions to which they were elected. .-11 l accordance with this notice I applied to the headquarters of the 4th Waikato Regiment for permission to enter the camp at Nga.ruawahia on April 27 • to train as' an officer. I might say that two of our officers would have gone bad permission been given. I was told that it was not permissible for me to attend, as there was no provision made for attendance of members of rifle clubs at territorial camps. Now,_ Sir, is the Government giving us fair treatment? What is the use of the riflo clubs if we' cannot get the facilities to train? Our club has been accepted by.the Government. We 'have a membership of about. 60, and could got more. Yet our officers and non-commissioned officers are not to enjpy the facilities whereby they might ..qualify. Apparently, the Government has ;grown cold over riflo clubs, and the feeling will certainly be reciprocated if t3iey do not receive a little more encouragement.—l am', etc.. . .A. T. ANDREWS, Vice-president (hon. lieutenant), Te Puke' Defence Rifle Club. April 24.