RIFLE SHOOTING

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 11, 8 October 1923, Page 11

RIFLE SHOOTING

N.R.A. MEETING . 1000 YARDS DELETED The annual meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Rifle Association was held last week. President H. T. Marshall occupied the chair, the following members also being present: —Colonel R. Hughes (Wanganui), Lieut.-Colonel F. B. Cresswell (Christchurch), Major I*. B. Henderson (Wellington), Presidents W. N. Masefield (Marlborough), F. J. Silvius (Dunedin), V. Donald airarapa), and G. Ashley (Auckland, Captain G. Felton, treasurer, and President W. G. Fellingham (Wellington), secretary. The chairman extended a welcome to Major Henderson as representative of G.H.Q., also voicing an expression of regret at the unavoidable absence of the president, Colonal R. J. Collins, who was just recovering from a severe illness. The executive passed a resolution of sympathy with the president, and expressed the hope for a speedy recovery.

It was decided to send a letter of condolence with the relatives of the lace Mr. J. O. Bidwell, a vice-president of tho association, who had done a great deal for rifle shooting. Deep regret was also expressed at tho death of Captain T. J. Davis, the quartermaster of the association, who had done so much for die comfort of the competitors at the last meeting at Trentham. It was decided to send a letter of condolence with his relatives. President 11. T. Marshall was reelected chairman of the executive, and Colonel Hughes was re-elected, vicechairman. Colonel Hughes was also reappointed executive officer-in-charge of the annual rifle meeting. It was decided that the dates of the annual meeting should be Tuesday. March 18, to Saturday, March 22, 1924, the range being open for practice on Monday, March 17. The army meeting ends on Friday, ’March 14, so that the N.R.A. follows immediately. Arrangements have been made with G.H.Q that competitors at rhe army meeting who are also competing at the N.R.A. can have their free passes extended to cover both meetings. It was decided to work as closely with the Army Association as possible, it being felt that this would result in mutual benefit. For this year it was decided to use the same size targets as the Army at 300, 500, and 600 yards, thus saving the necessity of altering the targets. The service teams matches were deleted from the programme. An alteration was made in the individual service matches, four of the Army competitions being adopted with the necessary alteration owing to the difference in the rifle used. Much discussion took place on the question of retaining the 1000-vard range in the Belt series, and it was eventually decided, owing to the quality of the ammunition, not to go beyond 900 yaids for the championship. Otherwise the conditions for. the King’s remain unaltered.

In order to encourage the medium shots, three grades, A, B, and tyro, have been adopted. In Australia the various national rifle associations are well supported by donations. It was decided that members of the executive form a small committee in their own districts to take this matter in hand. The membership of the association stands at 537. In this connection it was decided to issue membership books to rifle clubs at an early date. It was felt that if the clubs put energy into this effort and enrolled members the programme could be improved. President F. J. Silvius presented to the association, on behalf of th© Kiwi Rifle Club, Dunedin, a gold medal to be awarded to the highest tyro aggregate. It was announced that, the following gentlemen had accepted the position of vice-presidents of the. association Messrs. W. J. Girling, M.P., and Ei S. Parker, Marlborough : Lieut.-Coloiiel C. H. Weston, D. 5.0., and F. E. Wilson, New Plymouth; W. A. Veitch, M.P., Wanganui; W. Ballantyne, Christchurch; U. Akers and F. Need- r ham, Rangitikei; A. P. Whatman-, Wairarapa; Colonel E. R.- Smith, -V.lJ.f and C. Speight, Dunedin.

Owing to the wet weather tho Wellington clubs postponed the opening of the rifle shooting season on Saturday.