RIFLE CLUBS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 11110, 6 May 1911, Page 13

RIFLE CLUBS.

Under the new scheme,

RULES AXD REGULATIONS,

The new general regulations for the 1 New Zealand Defence Forces includo the following rules for tlio organisation and control of rifle clubs:—

Before any club can be formed, an application on a prescribed form, signed by not less than thirty men eligible to become active members, who must be natural-born or naturalised British subjects, and who'are bona-fide residents ot the locality in which it is desired to form the club, must, ho forwarded to the area of the district officer in which the club will be situated. In special cases tho Governor may authorise the formation of clubs 'in remote districts with a less number than thirty. If at any time after tho first year of formation the strength of a rifie club falls below thirty active members,, such club may be disbanded by tho Governor. Rifle clubs shall consist of active and honorary members. Activo members must bo under the age of fifty-five, and shall undertake to seri'e as a secondary reserve to be drafted in time of emergency into the ranks of the Territorial;,Forco when the Territorial J'orce Reserve has been exhausted. Any person desiring to become a member of a Rifle Club must apply to join tho one situated nearest to his place of domicile. Tho president of the club shall not accept any poison as an aotivo member unless the candidate can prove by the production of his record-book that ho lias been passed as medically fit either for service in tho Territorial Force or for service in a rifle club. In the case of persons who have never been supplied with record-books, the president of the club will be hold responsible that every candidato accepted as an active member is fit for service in the field. Presidents of clubs may, on application, bo supplied with rifles and spare parts, etc., for active members of their club at the prices given from time to time in the "Ordnance Store Price-list." Magazine Leo-Enfield rifles may bo sold to active members of rific I clubs on a deferred-payment system, the conditions of which will be published from time to time. Rifles will not be sold to members of rifle clubs on the "deferred-payment system" unless the club undertakes to act as guarantor for tho duo fulfilment on tho part of the purchaser of tho agreement between tho purchaser and tho Defence Department. In cases of non-payment of any instalments'when due by any member, or of tho breach of any condition of the agreement between tho purchaser and tho Defence Department, tho rifle club of which tho purchaser is or was a member shall be- responsible for, and shall on demand pay tho amount due. The privilege of purchasing rifles from, the Government by active members of rifle clubs is subject to a sufficient supply of rifles being available for this purpose, and may be withdrawn at any time. Ammunition supplied by the Government as a free issuo will bo delivered free at any railway station in the vicinity of tho club. In the case of rifles, ammunition, and other stores supplied by tho Government, either by purchaso or on loan, the freight will be paid by tho club. The following free issues of ammunition will be granted subject to the conditions laid down: — ■ (1) For each active member, 100 rounds annually. • (2) Where field firing can be carried out in a locality considered absolutely safe by tho O.C. District, a special allowance of 20 rounds per man. 11ns allowance, however, will only be granted when arrangements can. be made for the ammunition to be expended under tho supervision of an officer of the Military Forces not below the rank v ot captain. , .., . Active members of ntto clubs will bo entitled to railway warrants (second class) when proceeding to the nearest rifle range to carry out practice or drill. No railway warrants will be issued to members of ride clubs to visit rule meetings or tho ranges of other clubs for purposes of competitions except by tho special authority of tho G.O.C. Ammunition issued free annually to clubs for the uso of members is to be expended during the year for which it is issued. Ammunition is not to be accumulated from year to year. 1 residents of clubs will furnibh a yearly return to District Headquarters showing tho balance of musketry ammunition on hand; and such unexpended balance shall he deducted from the issuo for the following year. Each active member of a rifie club shall be entitled to purchase 200 rounds of ammunition per annum at a reduced rate. Presidents of clubs will make i.rrangements for the collection of empty cartridge-cases, arid for tho disposal of the same; tho proceeds of the sale of such empty cases to bo credited to club funds, and to be used only lor club purposes. Every active member of a rifle club will firo a- prescribed annual course of smsketry hs laid clown in tho "New Zealand Musketry instructions." Tho nominal rolls furnished to area sergeantmajors at the end of each training year will show that this has been done. Any active member who has not fired this course will be struck off the strength of tho club. I'nits of the Territorial Force and senior cadet companies have priority of claim to the uso of any Government range. A pattern of service dress has been approved) and may bo worn by members of rifle clubs. It will not bo issued free, and its provision is optional. Uniform will only bo worn when at training, or when performing military duty, or on other occasions when uniform is authorised to be worn. Commissioned officers will wear the uniform to which they aro entitled. Active members of Rifle Clubs who arc still serving in tho Territorial Force- Reserve will wear the uniform .of their unit or corps; otherwise no member of a rifle club, as such, shall wear any uniform except-that authorised for riflo clubs.