ARMY OF LIGHT RIFLEMEN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 30, 30 October 1907, Page 11

ARMY OF LIGHT RIFLEMEN.

Th<> Society of Miniaturo Ride Clubs has now moreithan nine hundred clubs enrolled, and the present year has been Far and away the most .successful in its history. Mr.-Hi-Marks, the secretary of tho society, ascribes this/great forward movement very ..largely', to the support given to light rifle shooting by the London ''Express." Speaking to a representative of the "Express" last month, he said: —"Since the 'Express' took up tho question of miniature rifle shooting in March last we have formed'no fewer than' 294 new clubs, and have increased 1 our'membership by nearly 30,000 riflomon. ' '■■•'•' ■ .-■-• "Oil March 1 this year tho society numbered 615 clubs; that figure has now been increased, to 909.: It took us five years to get' 500 clubs formed.' "So you see that an ■ addition of 294 clubs in six months means a ! very long'step forward. '. , ,- "Of course, a great impetus was'given'to the''movement .by the'! Queen's presentation of' a'cup for competition among the clubs. But there is no doubt that the help rendered by the 'Express' has been enormous, and it has' yet to bo seen what, the special rifle meetings .organised by the 'Express' will ro'suit in."' 'They cannot but mean.a further V-ahia.hle (impetus, aiiil' all-round encouragement to members' and 'would-be members alike.. ;, .' ■'■' ~ . !. ■'" • . "We now have flourishing clubs formed-in all parts of England, Scotland; Ireland, aiid Wales, and'l am, constantly .receiving lettors from, different parts of the, country asking, for details "of howwe do our .work. . That speaks of plenty, more!clubs nti present in embryo. '.■■'; :', ' "A loiter reached mo this morning from tho New . South Wales. Association .of 'Riflo Clubs, asking for, a .match to bo arranged with /our, association. I have had similar requests from the Cape and the West Indies. The fact that we are corning to a workable" understanding with various' Colonial clubs is evidence that our movement is quito a live one. ....

'"But, although wo; have gotting'on'for a thousand clubs "n0w,..; when you remember how 'many'thousands'of towns and villages fche'ro are in this country, you will''realise that ,wo' are far from' .being' 'near to' Lord' Roberts' ideal'of a nation, of marksmen!'., , I "We aro steady progress, however, arid I' believe, that wo, are nbw ; '!ver'y much nearer the time'when rifle shooting'will bo part'of bur, national lifo—when! tho name of John Jones,', of /th'o Manchester Rifle Cliib, will boas' well-known : . to, the' public' iis' tha t of C. ,'B., Fry;. of the 'Sussex- County 'Cricket Club." . , •' ', '.',', ,'. , „</' , , :■''••