DOMINION’S WAR EFFORT

Evening Star, Issue 23678, 11 September 1940, Page 6

DOMINION’S WAR EFFORT

RIFLE CLUBS DISAPPOINTED in BEING MADE DDE OF [Pei: United Press Association.] INVERCARGILL, September 11. Keen disappointment that the authorities have not made use of the services of rifle clubs in New Zealand’s war cifort was expressed by the president, Mr A. R. Wills, at the annual meeting of the Invercargill Defence Rifle Club. “ Of the older members of the club who are not eligible for active service, there are quite a number who would be useful for teaching recruits to shoot,” he said. “ Many of those who had gone away would be far better shots if they had had training from men who understood the job.” When war was declared he said he had telephoned the local authorities and had asked, as a defence rifle club, if they would be taking part in home defence or guard duty, and he had been told that that would, not he the case, that those members who were eligible could sign on in the ordinary way.”' “The position is they are not going to use us, and that is not right. No matter how old a man is, so long as he can shoot he would be of value in some way. I’m quite satisfied if we picked out a squad from our two rifle clubs here any enemy coming within 100yds would get a hot time, a hotter time than any Territorials could give them.”