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(b.) Rifle Clubs. There are now 168 Rifle Clubs in the Dominion, totalling 5,986 members. Their role is the education of non-members of the New Zealand Naval and Military Forces and the public generally in the necessity for training citizens to shoot. These clubs have been assisted out of the Defence vote by(l.) A grant of free ammunition up to 200 rounds for each member: (2.) A further grant of 200 rounds of ammunition per member at half cost price : (3.) Free railway passes up to 100 miles to competitors attending various district rifle meetings : (4.) Free railway passes from any place in the Dominion to competitors attending the annual meeting of the Dominion Rifle. Association, Wellington : (5.) Part cost of upkeep of targets and Government ranges used by Rifle Clubs : (6.) Sale of rifles at reduced rates : . (7.) Payment of expenses of sending representatives of N.Z. Rifle Clubs to Bisley and Australia from time to time : (8.) An annual grant for prizes at the annual meeting of the Dominion Rifle Association. The expenditure involved is approximately £6 10s. per active Rifle Club member per annum. In a national emergency all members of Rifle Clubs within the military age would be required to conform to the law applying to all citizens to be enrolled as members of organized units of the N.Z. Military Forces. Under these circumstances Rifle Clubs cannot possibly fulfil the functions prescribed for them in the Defence Act. In view of the above it was considered that the expenditure on Rifle, Clubs should not be a charge against tho Territorial Force vote. This having been agreed to, provision has been, made on the estimates for the current year for a special vote for Rifle Clubs and the Dominion Rifle Association, totalling £21,490. To further promote the interests of rifle shooting in the Dominion it is not intended to burden clubs with restrictions as to firing an annual musketry course or the rendering of reports and returns to the military authorities. They will be permitted to manage their own affairs ; and any British subject over the age of eighteen years, including members of the Territorial Force and trainees temporarily placed on the non-effective list, will be eligible to join a Rifle Club. Ammunition will in future be sold to members of Rifle Clubs at ss. 6d. per hundred up to 500 rounds per annum. This represents a concession to each individual member of £3 15s per annum. Under these conditions it is considered that the membership will greatly increase. (c.) Dominion Rifle Association. A successful annual meeting of the Dominion Rifle Association was held at Trentham, at which there were 441 competitors (351 Rifle Club members and ninety members of the N.Z. Military Forces), and the winner of the King's Prize was selected to represent the Dominion at Bisley. Provision for payment of his expenses has been made in the estimates. Although the meeting was well attended by Rifle Club men, the attendance of members of the Territorial Force and Cadets was small in proportion to the strength of those Forces. The reason for the poor attendance of Territorials and Cadets at the annual meeting of the Dominion Rifle Association appears to be that they cannot, with their service rifles, compete for the King's Prize on equal terms with Rifle Club competitors who use non-service rifles and special appurtenances. 4. Postings for 1920-21. The following are the details in regard to posting of trainees for the current year :— (i.) Senior Cadets. Registered for training .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11,381 Posted to Cadet units .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9,942 Number not posted .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,439 Reasons for non-posting of above :— (a.) Exempted on grounds of undue hardships .. .. . . .. 3 (/;.) Placed on non-effective list owing to residence being more than one hour's journey from established drill centre .. . . .. .. . . 528 (c.) Gone to sea . . .. .. .. . . . . , . . . ] (d.) Still attending primary schools . . . . .. .. . . . . 801 (c.) Obviously medically unfit .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 (/'.) Medically unfit for current year.. .. .. .. .. .. 83 (//.) Undesirables .. .. .. . . .. .. . , .. 2 (It.) Religious scruples .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 1,439 (ii.) Territorial Force. Number liable for posting to Territorial Force on reaching the age of eighteen .. .. 7,911 Actually posted to Territorial Force units .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,585 Number not posted .. .. .. .. .. ..3,326 Reasons for non-posting of above : — (a.) Placed on non-effective list owing to residence being more than one hour's journey from an established drill centre .. .. .. .. 2,590 lb.) Medically unfit .. .. . . .. .. . . .. 299 (:.-.) Unfit for current year .. .. .. . . .. .. .. 24-1 (d.) Retained as non-commissioned officers with Senior Cadets.. .. .. 196 3,326 It will be seen from the above figures that the present system of training is not universal, as approximately 40 per cent, of those persons registered under the Defence Act receive no training whatever in the Territorial Force,