RIFLE CLUBS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 213, 5 September 1912, Page 4

RIFLE CLUBS.

BIGHTS WITH TEBSITOBUtS. | MINIMUM STRENGTH REDUCED. I (By Telegraph. —Press Association.) \VELJjI!NT:TOK, this day. Following upon negotiations, nilniinating in a conference which has T>een proceeding between the executive of tiio New Zealand rifle dubs and the General Officer Command-ing the Forces (MajorGeneral Godley), it was decided at a meeting of the' e-xe-cntrre last evening to | address to each of the riflo . clubs throughout the Dominion, .for. their information, a circular memorandum covering the net results of these negotiations, together -with a brief account of tho proceedings at the conference. The following requests of dobs were agreed to by General Godley: — 1. That voluntary rifle associations will not be abolished, but remain. ! 2. That all Government rifle range? be availnble, free of charge, by rifle club? and" voluntary rifle associations. i 3. That rifle dubs have equal rights with Territorials on Government rifle range*. A. That the minimum strength of rifle chi'bs be reduced from 30 to 15. 5. That, rifle club competitors at the Dominion 'Rifle Association's meeting at j Trentha.m suggest annually to the Com- I mandant the names of three rifle cluT> officers to ant on the executive committpri of the Dominion Bifle Association. For this year the delegates at the con-, ferenoe suggested: Presidents Marshall iKsrori), .vUeefield (Sounds), and WeWi I (Opakii. These were approved by General Go-lley, and now take office. | fi. That the executive committee of the Dominion Bifse Association, consistii'.p of three ttsJT officers, three Territorial rtlticers., end three rifle club officers shall dra>v up an annual programme, an! ; carry oui the functions of a maaageme'.it i eonimirtpo. j 7. Th whrrf barrfls cannot be ob ' tmined from llie -Defen , . c Stotcs, "barrels j f:tlori by private firms and inspected and I stimped by tl)." Government Armourer a", i eqiu! only to service barrels may be used at Dominion Jlifie Association meetings. The following were held over for con- I sid'Pration 'by Creneral Godley and tb.o ; D.R.A. excf-utive: —(l) That'in the annual D.R.A. championship •belt series a 1 black circular -bull's-eye target shall He | used; (2) that entries for service matches shall be optional to all competi tor? over 25 years of age. ; The folios-ing were held over for con j sideratioo by General Godley: — (11 j That, in addition "to a free of 150 ; rounds, members of rifle dnbs b« allo-we " i to purchase at l«-a=t 500 roands eenaall? ' it '■•/ p-r l'TO; I*2l that a rifle dabs' .}>• I pjrtment bo «>?taWished, so that ail n». i trrs per:.'.inir,-r to rrfle dobs go tbtro , .:!'' ! the sam cfKHineJ. Tires prttpjeit. "it j was eosttn? sturpLieiGv ; in administration. " | Amendment; to Mgolaiioß3 of Mir?! I 10th. Ifil2. as foilowrs -were agreed w> by ! General Godiey: Oaa?e 3,~- .arin-i-aiirii? strength of rifle club* rednirmi frrrm 30 to 15: clause 4. fiefeted. •'oSkers of c? 39 ; to be re<viramended -by nilitarx oSeer in j charge of group."' a nd" snib=t-!tn"ted. ii the»'s": offirers to ! he elected by . the - <*ab in the lordinary tray."' Added to dnties of rinVf provident: "Fie shall have power to f,i • the time for carrying out -class -firini of compulsory men and the supervision ot the samp." Clause 9, aTtemiances ot compulsory men for "the present year arr reduced from 6 to 3, as only a'few rifles will bt> k.=UTd with the firit draft.. ■ Clause 10. cla«--&r:ng for voluntary mem- I bers errtailijie 73 rounds annually.'and in- j eluding ordinary preparatory "work, riv ! duced to 23 rounds, preparatory course I Wing omitted, and standard Wet (part 3) applied. Additional clause adopted: "Where club membership is up to th? maxisium.. a« new voluntary membcrA , join, surplus <crjmpul«orT members to bf.. transferred to other units/ ' j In the matter of railway passes. Go-no- ! r.-.l CJodley stated that, owing to la-ck of i funds, he was unable to- aiter the po*i J tion. Subsequently, follonins upon an j interview with theMiniete.r for Defence ! (Hon. Ja*. A]len)< the Prime Minister an-1 nounced that railway passes would he i placed on the old footing, with a 100-mile '. limit. I The circular concludes:—"RUlo clu'o? ! having been given a genuine partnership i in the D.R.A. and its management, til.! ! executive is cciindently expecting a very i attractive programme, and appeal-; tc ! you to do your best- in seeing that Tim; ' club is well represented at the ne\t meeting at Trcntham, to put the New. i Zealand rifle meeting on the high pUae ' on which it formerly-stood. In vonm-c- I tion with compulsory men, your execu- ' five feels <-urn that you will' give everv i £.vsis.tajice in teaching them the use of i the rifle and 'helping them as far s= lies | in your power."