DEERSTALKERS’ ASSOCIATION

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29238, 23 June 1960, Page 23

DEERSTALKERS’ ASSOCIATION

Women Accepted As

Members

Women have been admitted to membership of the North Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association, according to the annual report of the branch.

The question of women members had been before the branch for some time, and at a general meeting a majority vote had decided in favour of members’ wives being admitted as members at the full subscription, the report said. The membership of the branch now stood at 600. of whom 488 were financial, said the report. Many new members had joined during the year, far outnumbering resignations. Discussion on the new scheme undertaken by the branch to accept junior members (under 18 ; ears) at a subscription of 10s. took place at the annual meetingThese members will be taught all aspects of firearms and bush safety by experienced deerstalkers to equip them for shooting. It was decided to have a range field day for the first group of juniors at the branch’s rifle range at Gebbies Valley next month, at which the young shooters will be given instruction in firearms safety. When more proficient, they will be taken on field trips into the high country, including the Lewis Pass region. An amenities fund had been set up during the year, the ultimate aim being to finance the building of the branch’s own clu'i rpoms and facilities. This would be a distinct asset as a centre for giving evening instruction and lectures to juniors, as well as providing for senior members with film evenings and other functions, said the president (Mr G. W. McQueen). A rifle shoot at the Gebbies t’alley range had been held during the year to obtain a score for entry in the National Deerstalkers’ Association competition, and it was hoped to hold a shoot with the South Canterbury and Rakaia branches, said the annual report. Little if any progress had been made with the New Zealand Forest Service in the granting of new shooting areas for members, said Mr McQueen. He said that it was hoped, with the co-operation of runholders in North Canterbury, to have shooting areas made available for the winter months in the frontal country. Messrs McQueen, A. F. Burdon, and L. G. Perham were appointed delegates to the New Zealand Association’s annual conference in Napier on August 4 and 5. Officers elected were:—President, Mr G. W. McQueen; vicepresidents, Messrs W. H. Robinson, A. F. Burdon; secretary, Mr F. P. Eade; treasurer, Mr R. Greenwood; information officer, Mr L. Perham; committee, Messrs A. D. Campbell, R. C. Fineran, D. George, S. Hegan, C. O. James, B Kelly. P. F. Mangan, V. J. O’Neill, N. K. Pearce, L. G. Perham.