RIFLE SHOOTING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 618, 22 September 1909, Page 5

RIFLE SHOOTING.

. TEN GOLD BADGES FOR BOYS. Much has been written ahd more talked about encouraging rifle shooting among the bo.vs, but vory little ol a practical nhture has been (lone. Hide shooting is a growing recreation or, shall wo say, a utilitarian snort, but it is still-fur from being what it should be— the natidnal sport. ; The Karon Rifle Club is therefore to be commended for the forward step it is taking in encouraging shooting amongst boys. The following is a letter forwarded ves T tcrdny to Jlnjor T. W. Jl'Douald, O.C. Public School , Cadets:— ■ ■ "Dear sir,—Tho. Karori. Defence Eiflo Club aro desirous of assisting.in some small way tho promotion of rifle shooting amongst tho cadets of tho primary schools. They believe that if tho boys can be given a tasto for it, riflo shooting will take its place with football and cricket as one of their recognised .and popular sports. Their shooting, later as defence cadets and afterwards as adults, should follow as a natural sequence. At present in Wellington, with both football nnd cricket, each school plays every other school. during .the Benson, until finally one, school wins the proud distinction of- champion team for the year. In order to bring about tho, same competition in riflo shooting,; and thus tend to mako it a national sport,'l hare very much pleasure, on behalf-of , ,the Karori Defence Rifle Club, in offering , annually ten gold badges, tq.be worn for a year by - the champion public schools cadet team of Wellington city and suburbs. The badges will be suitablo to wear either on the breast or the sleeve of. jersey or tunic., The - foljowinn conditions aro sng- , gested :—Competitions to be: under Dominion 11. A. : rulesi one team only from each school; ten toys in bach-team. • • .- "As sixteen fiihools can compote, this means

that a largo number-,of'boys, will bo affected by tho scheme.. , Seeing that the, masters already spend, a good deal of -time with tho cadets, you I could perhaps 'arrange \ for the matches to.be fired in-part-of the time now allotted-to drill. I -.understand that tho (joveruincnt is installing miniature .ranges in many,of.the schools. This should greatly help this, scheme, astho competition can. probably pmy be'.carried: out-, on these ranges." The badges, after; being worn for a year, would remain the i property of the boys, and would) no doubt bo treasured by them in later years. 1 ho,boys, I should think,'would be'vcrv proud to wear a badgo denoting that they-belong to the champion, team. 'Also, those" , not actually in the winning team, but,belongiiigto the samo school, would bo proud of the success of then school. The'masters, also, would feel it in/ cumbenf; on them to produce tho best possible team for their school. As this would mean koenly coaching a greater number than those" actually required for a team,' sove'ral hundred boys-would bo benefited by tho necessity of selecting the sixteen-teamE. No doubt, also, parents .and friends would tako some interest in, and assist, the -various teams. If this competition, can .bo arranged, and thus establish a-local championship, perhaps it will-mark a further advance in the direction of making rifle shooting a national sport. I should be glad to discuss further details with you,' in order to arrange conditions, --which wonld be agreeable .to. all 'concerned, arid ■ at" tho same time would produco a feasible scheme; :. ■; .■;-.' . ..• .';••■;, "H.Marshall. ; ! .■'.; "President,'Karori Defence Bifle'Club. , '