THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. Saturday, April 2, 1910 "RIFLEMEN, FORM!"

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 247, 2 April 1910, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. Saturday, April 2, 1910 "RIFLEMEN, FORM!"

The passing of the Compulsory Military Training Bill last year and its coming into operation last month have had little, if any, effect upon the King Country so far. It is not anticipated that the rising generation •will be organised in country districts for a while yet. A movement is, however, afoot, which will do much to prepare the way for efficiency in shooting, provided it receives the support it deserves. The King Country Rifle Association has been formed, with headquarters at Taumarunui. Its area is from Frankton to Taihape, and is surely all-embracing enough. It is intended to have representatives.from each corps aiid club in the area on the council, and to promote efficiency in. marksmanship through friendly rivalry between the different corps and clubs. In all probability, too, the Association will press for concessions and facilities to its members in various ways, and this alone should be a reason for each corps or club becoming affiliated. It is time a club was started in Te Kuiti. There are a considerable number of young men who will not be affected by the new Act, but who would welcome facilities for practising the art of shooting. A further advantage such a club would possess i 3 the improving of the marksmanship of members who will also be attached to the territorial force. Efficiency only comes through constant practice, and unless our youths and young men take a lively interest in their duties we cannot hope for the highest standard of quality from them. In days of old, when archery occupied the position that gunnery does to-day, the archers had regular tournaments to exhibit the skill they possessed, and every village green was a place of meeting for the young men engaged in the art. It is such a spirit we need to-day. "Defence, not defiance," is the old volunteer motto, but it need not imply that we are careless as to whether we are efficient or not. The work the new Association can do is therefore useful from every point of view and it should be heartily encouraged in its efforts to uplift the standard of efficiency in marksmanship.