VALUE IN DEFENCE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21216, 12 September 1940, Page 3

VALUE IN DEFENCE

SERVICES OF RIFLE CLUBS DISAPPOINTMENT IN SOUTH (Bv Telegraph.—Press Association) INVERCARGILL, Wednesday Keen disappointment that the authorities had not made use of the j services of rifle clubs in the Domin- ! ion in New Zealand’s war effort was J expressed by the president, Mr A. R. j Wills, at the annual meeting of the I Invercargill Defence Rifle Club, j “Of the older members of the : club not eligible for active service j quite a number would be useful in j teaching recruits to shoot,” he said, i “I know many of those sent away ! would be far better shots if they had had training from men who underI stand the job. When war was dei clared I rang the local authorities ! and asked whether, as a defence rifle , club, would we be taking part in ! home defence or guard duty. I was i told that that would not be the case. I Those members eligible could sign on | in the ordinary way. Not To Be Used i “The position is that they are not I going to use us. That is not right. ; No matter how old a man is, so long | as he can shoot he would be of value lin some way,” added Mr Wills. “I | am quite satisfied that if we picked a i squad out of our two rifle clubs here ! any enemy coming within 1000 yards ' would get a hot time—a darn sight ! hotter time than any territorials could give them.”