THE FIFTH CONTINGENT SHOOTING TESTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 64, 16 March 1900, Page 2

THE FIFTH CONTINGENT SHOOTING TESTS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—As a member of the Fifth Contingent who passed all the preliminary tests and has put in his fortnight In camp, I think it right to point out: what the public will surely recognise as an outrageous scandal. This concerns the shooting test —the linal qualification for permanent inclusion in the contingent. Everyone will admit that the shooting test is an im- ; portunt one, but they will fail to see how a man's efficiency in this respect is going to he improved without guns. Camp routine would never learn a man to hit the bull's eye. For two solid weeks we had been "put through our facings" in camp, but no monition was ever made of shooting—it did not seem to be officially recognised. We never even saw the siyn of a. rifle till last Monday. This is how it hapi pened:—On that day the commanding offl- | cer intimated that those who wished to i go out and practice at the range could do so. About 20 of us (possibly enthusiastic) marched out In the tropical sun to the range.. Arrived there, wo were staggered by the information that the practice would constitute a final shooting test, to consist of three rounds per man. Three precious cartridges were duly served out, I the firing- of which would, either by fluking or otherwise, mar or make a member's ! chance of going to the front! Then the 20 ! candidates, perspiring in every pore from j the heat, and completely unstrung by the ! suddenness of the official notice, took charge of the two antiquated Ma.rtln.V----j Henry carbines provided by the authorli ties for tho teat. Two men at a time were called out to lire, and in this state of natural flurry proceeded to decide their fate in a test where steady nerve particularly ia required. To add to the trouble, the two rides rapidly became so hot that good shooting under the best of circumstances was out of the question. Result: Five out of twenty passed, and probably fortune smiled upon them when they were not expecting it. At least, the3 r pay so, ana one case in which a bullet ricochteed from the ground and scored a bull's eye lends a healthy complexion to the assumption. Now, sir, this is the modus operand! of the shooting test,and will any fair-minded man deny that it was unjust in the extreme? Are men mere automatons, or do they possess nerves? The officers in charge of us evidently thought we did, for they remarked that it was most unfair to expect men to shoot with such rifles and under such conditions. They proved this by firing themselves—and unsuccessfully. The outcome of the whole affair is a powerful expression of disgust and denunciation from the 33 rejected members which will not be productive of happy effects generally. Right up till Monday we were given to understand there would be no trouble with the shooting, as good riding was the prime consideration. It means now that 33 men have been living for two weeks in a fool's paradise. They eret no pecuniary solatium, have lost valuable time, and have stood uncomplainingly all the rigour of camp discipline, only to bo disappointed. Will the public, in Its love for fair play, not demand some investigation a-nd that justice shall be done these men on whose behalf and my own I am writing? The officer commanding said he had no time to give us another test, yet upon dismissing us the ranks* were immediately filled, with raw recruits principally. I-low can he find time to wast© on the latter—a fortnight—when two hours would have given us another chance? Evidently there is something wrong in the official machinery, and the sooner the public rectify it the better for volunteers. —I am, etc., A REJECTED MEMBER. March 15, 1900. rOne of the Camp" and "Justice" also send us letters bitterly complaining of the manner in which they and others were treated at tho shooting test.—Ed. B.S.]