THE BULL'S EYE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 14, 11 July 1911, Page 7

THE BULL'S EYE.

FUTUKE OF RIFLE SHOOTING. TnE NEW SCHEME. "The 'buirs eye' must go" was th« note struck by the Commandant at the last annual meeting, at Treiithum, of the Dominion Ki-ile Association. Ever since, those who have taken an interest iii rifle-shooting, have been waiting to hear what is to be the result—whether service conditions are to absolutely replace the bull's eye, or whether the transition will be carried out on a less drastic scale. From enquiries made by a AVellington I'ost representative, it appears that, although the final touches have not yet been put on the new scheme, the general outline has been agreed upon, and it will be made public in the course of a few days.

At the last meeting at Trentham the Commandant clearly indicated that future meetings ot the. Association, if they are to be supported by the association, must be carried out on strictly military lines, and consequently the conditions will be altered accordingly. There ib no intention, however, of doing anything • hurriedly, and the change will be effected in such a way as to educate, rather tlian discourage, the older competitors who have been brought up on "hull's eyes." Since the last meeting of' the association the matter has been the subject of very careful consideration, and a conference has been held oetwecn .headquarters and the executive officers »pf the association. Tke outcome, so far .as can be gathered, is that tkere is to be a Dominion Rillo Association, and district and group rifle associations in each military district. These subsidiary associations are to be formed to encourage ■members of the Defence forces to become efficient in the use of the rifle and to promote rifle-shooting generally as a necessary element in the defence of the Empire. His Excellency the Governor will he patron of the newly - constituted Dominion Rifle Association, with the Minister of Defence as vice-patron; the Commandant will be president, and tke Adjutant-General, Director of Training, and Director of Military Operations will be vice-presidents and ex-officio members of the council. The council will conMat of an executive officer and ten members, the latter comprising two officers from each district nominated by ] the officer commanding the district, and two officers elected by the commandant. This council will be formed to prom.te and conduct all Dominion rifle competi-1 tions, and its decision will be available : in any question in connection with rifleshooting which may be referred to it by any other rifle association. The Executive Officer and the Director of Military Training will draw up a programme of events and submit it to the council. In each military district a cemmittee haft to be appointed to manage the District" Rifle Association; this committee will be | charged also with the conduct of all rifleshooting other than that laid down by •military regulations.

MONEY GKAi\TS. Money grants from the Defence vott will only be made for rifle-shooting ol a strictly military character, conducive ('i (lie training of the force. In no way will the regulations interfere with local rifle associations or inter-regiment or inter-company matches, which may be carried out provided they do not entail any expense on the Defence Department.

This, naturally, means a very considerable change in the character of the programme of the Dominion Rifle Association's annual meeting at Treutham. The new programme will probably allow four days for service matches and four days for fixed target competitions. There will, in all likelihood, tie three series—teams' matches of n purely service character, individual service matches, and fixed target matches, including bull's-eye competitions. These matches will he open to all members ol the New Zealand military forces, and will he carried out under strict military discipline; in those matches which aTe of a purely military character the competitors will have to wear the uniform in every detail, and the matches will be fired "by the book." Teams' matches will include snap shooting, rapid shooting, and shooting at figure, disappearing and moving targets. SPECIAL MATCHES.

There will be one special match, to be known as the Islington competition, (or a enp presented by His Excellency tlie Governor, to be carried out on the lines of the Evelyn-Wood competition—the team competing h;is to march eleven miles and finish up with an attack on figure targets, placed at various distances on the range. There is also to lie a field-firing competition, in which disappearing sectional targets at unknown distances will be used. A novelty will he. provided in the form of a Superiority of Fire competition, the details of Which are being worked out. Individual service matches will comprise snap-shooting, attack and observation of fire, moving targets, running man, ana rapid shooting. Another series will be fired at first and second-class figure targets, at all ranges under 800 yds. and at Ihe bull'seye target at 80(1, 1)00, anil 1000 yds. The championship will be derided at the last-named range so that this series will be, practically the same as the competition in the last few years for the Dominion championship. The authorities, it is understood, recognise that the formation of district or group rifle associations will be the outcome of the holding of the Dominion meeting annually, and it is hoped to establish some co-ordination among them and to give shape to some plan of emulation and competition between them, so as to arrange for the best team from each district being sent to the annua! Dominion meetieg. free of cost, other teams being allowed to attend at their own cost, frev ?■.■>;' way passes being granted as at patent. * This, it is suggested, would fend to induce the men of the territorial forces to practice to become good shots, and thereby improve their effectiveness a.s riflemen for the defence of their country. A revision of the conditions of the other matches the rules which govern fhi'in is. of course, necessary, in order to enable the meeting to be carried out in strict conformity with mili■tary regulations. This is now being done.