OUR RIFLE CLUBS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1401, 29 March 1912, Page 6

OUR RIFLE CLUBS.

REORGANISATION.

TOUR OF 22,400 MEN

INTERESTING DETAILS,

Aii official memorandum was issued by General Headquarters yesterday on tho •subject ol' the reorganisation of tho riflo clubs of the Dominion. "About 35 per cent. of the young men liable for trainin,? will be available for drafting into rifle club?, to undergo a certain amount of training and musketry under the linivrisal training scheme now in operation," states the memorandum. "Tlio making use of ride clubs for this purpose is to avoid a multiplication of divisions of ■the force, and to place the defence forces of Xow Zealand in two categories in their relation' to training and the defence of the Dominion." (a) Ist Line.—The 'l'nrritorial Force and the Territorial Uese-rvis (b) 2nd Line.—The riflo clubs, and tho training sections affiliated to riflo clubs. Personnel of C'ubs. "It must be kept in mind that very shortly all young men posted to form rifle clubs will have undergone drill and training between the ages of fourteen to eighteen in the senior cadets. The drill in riHo clubs will thus be of n refresher character only, tho end in view being that all will be drilled and practised in musketry to a state of individual efficiency to be drafted into the active ranks of tho force to fill vacancies or augment same should the necessity arise. liiflo | clubs will be given a place and function in the defence scheme, and their movement in time of necessity provided for in the mobilisation instruction of the Dominion. Clubs already existing will continue, and be governed by the rules and regulations already in existence. Additional members will be posted to clubs during June of each year to bring them uj> to strength. These annual drafts might be designated "junior members," and the G.O.C. confidently xpccts that the senior (i.e., old members) of these clubs will assist tlie junior members in every way. "Where no clubs exist, men available will be posted, given a rifle club designation, and oxercised and administered on same lines as present established clubs. The strength of a rifle club will rary according to population and situation. As far as possible the strength of an infantry company (100, officials not included), will be taken as a guide. Sections of 25 may be formed in different parts of the area, the general organisation being similar to that of the senior cadets. Estimate—22,4lo Riflemen, The estimate, on paper, of the futuro rifle club force, is 22,1C0 men. "The increase to this number will, however, bo gradual. Rifle clubs may accept as voluntary members suitable persons up to fiftyfive years of age. These may bo known as senior members. The junior members posted to clubs will not have a. vote, in the disposal of funds, subscriptions, etc., provided by senior members. Should a junior member subscribe to tho rules re private subscriptions, he will be eligible to all privileges as to club-fund distributions accorded to a senior member. Existing clubs will tints be composed:— (a) Of present members and persons who voluntarily join and cont.ributo to club. These might well be known ns senior members. (b) Members liable to universal training drafted or posted to the club by the group officer. "Only those young men who by May 31 next have reached tho age of eighteen and are not required for tlio Territorial Force will bo posted to the rifle clubs this and each succeeding year. The system is to be in no way retrospective. Existing ri lie clubs will note that this will not overcrowd them at once, but each year steadily increase their number until a maximum is reachcil. All persons posted to a rifle club will require to attend a minimum of eighteen afternoon or evening drills at convenient drill centres, and fire a prescribed course of musketry entailing at least six attendances on tho rifle range. Tho drill centres will, as far as possible, be arranged as for the Territorials and Senior Cadets—i.e., entailing not more than one hour's walk or one hour's ride from the men's itomcs. All members, irrespective of age, must fire the annual course laid down from year to year so long as they remain in the club. Members over or on reaching the age at which liability to military training ceases will be exempted from attendance i at drills. A maintenance grant of, sav, 2s. Gd. per member will bo paid to each i rifle club to cover incidental'expenses; no • other money grants will be given. "It is proposed to enlist the assistance of the various public bodies—somewhat on the lines of tlio county associations in tho Homo Country—to foster, aid, and help in the administration and equipment of the rifle clubs and senior cadets. Municipal law already provides authority for certain local bodies to contribute to or provide rifle ranges. Thus, with the formation of committees throughout the area, the public will be given opportunity to assist and increase the efficiency of this portion of their Defence Force. Rifles and Ammunition. "A certain number of rifles will lx> placed at the disposal of each club for use by all members when carrying on the N prescribed musketry course. As tho supply of rifles increases by importation more rifles will be issued, so that in timo there may bo rifles for all; in any case, tho number will bo increased each year. Members who desire to purchase rifles at cost price may do so as they becomo available. Members may have rifles rebarrelled at cost price, provided tho armourer reports that tho barrel is sufficiently worn out. "Ammunition will bo issued freo and at reduced rates in such quantities as may be from timo to time authorised. Present ranges will be continued and bo available for general use. The position of each range as to title, repair, and , maintenance will be inquired into, with a view to its maintenance and completion by tho Defence Department and the public. It will readily bo seen that this will take some time. Tlio difficulty can be overcome by close co-operation of the clubs, area officials, and public committees proposed to bo set up. Railway Passes. "Railway warrants will be available for proceeding to drills and annual musketry practices required. Railway warrants will also be available for members attending authorised shooting meetings organised or approved by the Defence authorities. A Group Association will only bo open for rail-pass purposes to men in the group. If any member of tho Defence Forces wishes to compete in nny meeting abovenamed ho will not be debarred from so doing, but will require to find his own railway travelling. In like manner, should it be desired by units of the force, including rifle clubs, to shoot team matches making their own conditions as to distances, class of targets, etc., they may do so, but must find their own railway travelling. On application to local railway authorities they can obtain tho privilege of single fare return, as is accorded to the various sports "bodies and societies when travelling in teams. It should bo clearly understood that the rifle clubs are being made tho medium for training the young men for whom plnees cannot bo found in tli« Territorial force. The club officials 'will not be expected to train these young men so posted—the area oflicers and N.C.O.s will superintend this training. The G.0.C., however, confidently expecftf that tlio senior members of the clubs will assist the young men to became oxpert shots, and to instil into them the same patriotic feeling and enthusiasm which pervades the riflo clubs now in existence."