TARANAKI RIFLE ASSOCIATION

Taranaki Daily News, 4 February 1916, Page 5

TARANAKI RIFLE ASSOCIATION

THE ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the A«eot!*> tion was held in the Town Hall last night, the president (Colonel Okey) presiding over a fair attendance. REPORT. In submitting the report, the execs* tive congratulated members on the tontinucd prosperity, of the Association, tho last meeting having been the Bloat successful i n its history. The finances were in a very satisfactory condition. I Starting the year with a credit balance of £72 9s 9d, they were how a credo of £lO2, thus making a profit of £3O) of which £-20 was received in donations. In view of the fact that so many Oall» were made on the public, the exteutive thought it advisable not to sale for any donations this year, JM»t : i*? stead, to reduce the prize list by- torn* thing like the amount received in donations, which was done by taking off the. first prize in each match in the 8» grand aggregate. The aggregate last year was won by Rifleman H. Hunt '(Suburbs) with 310, Rifleman D'. Rfltft* (Patea) being runner up with 315. Ohura won the teams' match with 478 points, Suburbs being second with. +72. The thanke of the AsaiXatiotf 1 were due to all those who had so consistently supported them, by donations and trophies, and also to the range officers, who did so much to sake the meetings the success they were; auo to the ladies who year after year attended to help at the meeting, and aloo the Press, who not only reported all meetings in detail, but also advertised aborting meetings free of charge. The balance sheet showed Veceipte to

have been £222 6s 7d, the prineiMl items being entries and membership £16!) 10s, donations £2B <4a 9d. Bxpenditure amounted to £193 si, tka principal item being prize money £l6B 15s. •> In moving the adoption of the report, the president said he was pleased to welcome old faces to the meeting, *nd he made special reference to. the presence of Rifleman Ballinger, with. wt»m he had been long associated. He was particularly glad to welcome toe young shooters, because it was to had to look to take the prominent place in the future. Judging by tiwir performance that day, there was nothing to fear. It was scarcely expected that the entries would have been numerically strong, as there were to inany of their members either at the front or in training to defend their country. TM Association had done good work in training young shots, as he had always considered, that this was the most important branch of a soldier's training. Colonel Okey made special reference to the loss the Association had. sustained in 'the death of one of its vice-prwi-dents, Colonel Malone, who had given hie life for his country. It was an ioßor to have been associated with Colonel Malone.

The adoption was seconded by Rifleman S. J. Hollard, and carried witbouf discussion, OFFICERS. ■ Officers were elected a» follow*:-* Patron, Colonel Ellis, V.D. (re-elected) ; President, Colonel Okey, V.D. (re-elect-ed) ; vice-Presidents, Messrs H. J. Okey, M.P., C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., J. B. Hlne, M.P., G. V. Pearce, M.P., W. T. Jennings, M.P., C. H. Burgess and T* B. " : Crump (Eltham); counoil, Colonel Okey, Pres. F. J. Hill, Rifleman W. Oil*. vcr (New Plymouth), Pres, P. Palmer, Riflemen D. Roots, M. Carey (Patea), Pres. Whiting, Rifleman T. King (Eltham), Riflemen W. Slaughter and 3. ' Hunt (Suburbs), Riflemen E. BroekJebank, C. Jackson (Stratford), Pres. J. Colmcr (Rahotu), Pros. G. Loreday (Olmra), Pros. A. H. Guy, Rifleman 6.' J. Hollard (Kaponga), Riflemen 6. 3. Mavhow (Makino), J. Shepherd (Opunake), A. Ballinger (Pctone), H. Q. Evans (Te KuitiJ, Pres. Taylor (Inglewood), Rifleman Purnell (Wenganui), Lieut. Atkinson (Auckland); executive, Riflemen C. Jackson, E. Brocklebank (Stratford), G. H. Taylor (Inglewood), T. King, G. H. Buckeridge (Eltham), P. Palmer, M. Carey (Patea), S, J. Hollard. (Kaponga), Lieut. Hollard and W. Oliver (New Plymouth), and the Fresi-' dent and Secretary; Secretary and treasurer, Pres. V. 3. Hill (re-elected); auditor, Rifleman A. L. Humphries (X»w Plymouth). Lieut. Arnold suggested that the Association should cater for the territorials, and he offered to donate a prise for that purpose. He pointed out that territorials were unable to obtain much ' practice owing to difficulty In obtaining rifles.

Colonel Okey said that the Association were encouraging young shot l ! by putting on tyro prizes. He considered that bulls-eye shooting would take a more prominent place in military rifla shooting than it had In the past. He instanced the good work dono at tho war by noted bulls-eye riflemen. He : .considered that the present method of teaching, grouping, etc., was alright, but .■ it was a case of beginning at the wrong tend. The secretary was voted an honorarium of £7 7s. Members were unanimous in paying tribute to tho good work done by him, and this was mainly responsible for placing the Association in its present financial position, Discussion took place as to the eon- * ditions on which the Championship Belt had been donated by Rifleman King, and it was decided that the executive should interview Rifleman King view to seeing if the conditions could ie altered. Votes of thanks were accorded the president, out-going officers, the ladiqa, 1 range officers, and to Messrs W. Slaugln jter, J. Bennett and Major Sandford roe - donations of medals, "