RIFLE CLUBS MEET THE COMMANDANT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 32, 6 August 1912, Page 2

RIFLE CLUBS MEET THE COMMANDANT

DEFINITE SCHEME FOR DEFENCE The question of posting surplus Territorials to rifle clubs and the gieneral relations of the rifle clubs with the Territorial system of tlefenco were the subject of a conference between Major-General Godley, Commandant of the Forces, and a representative gathering of rifle club men yesterday. Tho following were the delegates.: Messrs. H. Marshall, W. Hobbs, W. Judd, E. Gallichan, Burridge, Shannon, Macdonald, and H. O. Browne, general secretary for New Zealand (New Zealand Rifle Club's executive, Wellington), W. Welch (Opaki), G. Loveday (Ohuraj, Hill (New Plymouth), Broughton (Rangitikei), J. Rivers (Hastings), E. Carr (Kaeo), F. Moore (Auckland), M Unman (Te Ajoha), Miller (Blenheim), Quartermain (Wanganui), Sotheran (Grey mouth}, Searle (Invercargill), Logan (Dunedini, Harford (Feilding), Higgins (Timaru), Duthie (Christchurch), Masefield (Sounds), and Mong (Ngatiawa). The conference was not open to. the press, but following were the general conclusions arrived at>: — In regard to the posting of Territorials to the clubs the Conlmandant said that the Territorial Force, roughly speaking, could only stake in about 60 per cent, of those liable for service. There were only about 5 per cent, really unfit for training, which left 35 per cent, for posting to the clubs. He wanted the rifle club officials to " father " the youths posited to itheir clubs, for he was anxious to see the clubs a genuine second line to the Territorial Forces, an integral part in the defence scheme, taking their share iv the defence of the country. There was no possibility of issuing to the youths concerned a complete outfit just now. and they would arrive in the clubs without uniform, arms, or equipment. After the rifle club men had talked the matter over among themselves they promised to give every assistance to the Defence Department in the matter of teaching the compulsory members of clubs how to shoot, since it had been definitely shown that the voluntary members of clubs would be under no hardship. They urged that the abolition of the free railway pace for a distance limited to 100 miles would practically' mean the death of rifle associations as at present constituted. The- Commandant stated that he wished to encourage the formation of area group and district meetings, where the shooting would be to a larger extent carried out on strictly military lines. To such meetings competitors within the area, group, or district, as the case might be, would be graoited railway passes, but he could not see his way to recommend such for unauthorised meetings. The delegates ■unanimously urged the retention of the black and white bull's eye target for the Dominion Rifle Association meeting. General Godley said he could not give a decision without again consulting the executive of the D.R.A., but, if he did give way, it would be with great reluctance. In regard to the constitution of the Executive Committee of the D.R.A., it was agreed that the competitors ai the Trentham championship meeting should in future select three representatives annually to act on ithe executive, and thait they should play an active part in the drawing up ot the annual programme. To meet the case of the present year the delegates were asked to choose three representatives, and Presidents H. Marshall (Karori), W. N. Masefield (Sounds), and W. Welch (OpaKi) were appointed. The visiting. delegates expressed theraselvej* sati fed in every way ai {he result' of their deliberations, and at lunch, given by the executive, appreciative reference was made to the efforts which had brought the conference about.