FORMATION OF RIFLE CLUBS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 191, 17 August 1900, Page 2

FORMATION OF RIFLE CLUBS.

[PUB P8833 ASSOCIATION. Wellington, August 16. | A deputation waited upon the Premier yesterday, in regard to the conditions of the formation of lliile Clubs. lU'solutions passed at a meeting of Tarauuki delegates, held at Stratford recently, were laid before the Premier, who promised that they would receive the consideration of the Ministry. Mr. Seddon said ho thought it would bo reasonable to allow men over 35 years of age to form Rifle Clubs in districts

where thero were already volunteer corps in the districts. Where there were no volunteer corps men of any age might be allowed to form Hide Clubs. In cases where thero were several villages or districts in close proximity it might be arranged to have one Club for them all, with sections having a minimum membership of ten men in each village or district. Generally his i desire was to lift Hide Ulubs into a

position which they had never had before in this country, and more particularly did he want to have trained shots in sparsely-populated districts It would be bettor for the Government to take half payment for the weapons m the hrst year and the balance in the second year than rent rifles. Hi* PJ'^ ent was to allow members of Kifle Clubs fifty rounds of ammunition id their first year ami one hundred rounds per annum thereafter. To give them a good slant, ho would be prepared to make the allowance for the tmst year one hundred rounds. It was iilso necessity that Itillo Clubs should not militate against Volunteer Corps, 'Jilt at the samo time elderly men should have the opportunity of taking up arms in the. former associations,