RIFLE CLUBS

Evening Star, Issue 23681, 14 September 1940, Page 18

RIFLE CLUBS

MOBILE DEFENCE UNIT PLANNED The secretary of the Otago Rifle Association authorises the following statement : In recent weeks a few reports and letters have appeared in the Press relating to the activities of defence rifle clubs. Rifle club members have been rather annoyed by the fact that their services were not being utilised to the full by the Government. The attitude of these men is justifiable when it is taken into accoimt that their sport entailed their knowing to the full the correct use and care of the rifle. Accurate shooting cannot be iperformed unless the equipment is in first-class condition. All members of defence rifle

clubs are thoroughly coached on these lines and thereby become efficient marksmen. It has been said that whereas riflemen are experts at target shooting they are not nearly as expert when firing the musketry course as laid down by Army regulations. This has been proved on many occasions to be a fallacy. The greater number of riflemen, by their knowledge of handling the rifle, have proved that they are equally as adept in service shooting as they are in their target shooting competitions. The opportunity has now arisen for defence rifle club members to help in the defence of their country. It is required that a mobile defence unit under the auspices of the Home Guard organisation be formed in Dunedin, this unit to comprise solely rifle club members. To this end the Otago Rifle Association is organising a meeting to be held next week, and invites the cooperation of all rifle club members in Dunedin and suburbs. A special invitation is also sent to members of miniature rifle clubs who are in possession of service pattern rifles.