MINIATURE RIFLE RANGES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9637, 1 November 1909, Page 4

MINIATURE RIFLE RANGES.

The enthusiasm displayed by the Masterton School Committee in all R matters appertaining to the wJfare of the school has often been commented on. There is invaiiably a full attendance of members, who take a keen and intelligent interest in every subject that is brought forward. One question they hav« been interesting themselves in lately, and which calls for more than passing attention, is the construction of a miniature rifle range for the school. From the first mention of the movement, the Committee, recognising its great importance, immediately set to work to gather all the necessary information relating to the scheme. The officer commanding the school cadets was communicated with, a .probable site selected, and plana drawn. Subsequently an estimate' of the cost of erecting a range was procured, but it proved a prohibitive on«n Since then the Committee have been modifying the plans in order to try and get a more reasonable estimate for the work. In the meantime, however, the Wellington Education Board have betn taking the matter up, and at their meeting last week they decided that before beginning the construction of ranges,'school committees must obtain the sanction of the board and the officer commanding public school cadets. Several schools also l made applicat:oh far approval of proj posed ranges, and it was resolved to i approve a subsidy for the range lately opened up at Northland. Judging from this, if Masterton makes an application for a subsidy fur its range it will be granted, for it has certainly an equal, if not a much better right, to receive assistance than the case instanced. It is understood that the defence Department are willing to assist, and that if a subsidy is forthcoming from the Board there should be little difficulty in arranging for the balance of the cost of constructing the range.