"WHICH TARGET?"

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 151, 27 June 1914, Page 11

"WHICH TARGET?"

TO THIS EDITOR. Sir, — The writer would crave your indulgence while he makes a few very brief final remarks. Not in_ any instance has the writer opposed Sir lan Hamilton. Sir lans report recommends a full explanation of positions; but "Martini" quoted that officer after his departure, so that no explanation is available. Is it conceivable that Sir lan would not have modified his sole remark had he been informed that hundreds of bull'seye men remain at the bull's-eye all their lives? The intelligent reader will observe that "Martini" is not prepared to produce the famous battle practice records ; and that he has kept in the background the writer's unchallenged statement — that for every single shot which a British army recruit fires on the bull's-eye he fires five on tho figure. The writer treats the soldier's first year course as preliminary training; "Martini" limits the application of the word " preliminary to the first two days' practice of the soldier's first course. At a recent Auckland meeting the champion proved to be a man who is stated, on good authority, to have never fired at a bull's-eye. Eecently in Canterbury, 150 Territorials and 150 riflemen took part in a Service meeting. Owing to the unprecedented number of entries, the programme had to be cut down, and the prize-list was increased to the extent of £100 approximately. At Temuka something like 90 per cent, of the Territorials competed at a rifle meeting, and, after each competitor had received a prize, thirty prisies remained over. The Canterbury i and West Coast rifle clubi seek eqgerty

to keep up to the times by endeavouring to arrange for a hard-worked expert to give them lectures and practical demonstrations in modern musketry. i It is stated on good authority that i not a single officer has made any com- | plaints against the programme which "Martini" condemns. Do these signs of tho times indicate even the flimsiest foundation for "Martini's" mournful wail, or suggest any want of interest in districts where people are "doers" and not "preachers"? Tho writer would ,like to state here that riflemen constitute probably the finest body men in the Dominion, and their sport is certainly the cleanest. Their value in providing some sort of shooting — a most excellent basis for further training for many young men who would otherwise have little chance of practice — can scarcely be over-estimated. For these reasons the writer has always encouraged his pupils to join them. But there is no blinking the fact that the moment a- rifleman assumes an attitude counter to the teachings of the expert, his usefulness tTien ceases. Finally, now that "Martini" has admitted somewhat tardily that he has nothing new to offer, one might suggest that instead of posing as an anonymous expert, he should direct his energies in the direction of going to tho genuinr experts -and learning the elements of modern shooting and the underlying principles, as many of our best rifle clubs do. — I am, etc., D. MATHESON. 23rd June, 1914. NORTHLAND'S NEEDS TO TIK EDITOR. Sir,— Be the loan proposals, may Ibe permitted through your columns to ask our worthy Mayor and councillors, before the various items are approved of, to consider the needs of Northland. This populous and growing district badly needs a tram to connect with Wadestown and open up a. large area of building land., which would be covered with dwellings in a very short time if a tram could take the residents to and from the city. — I am. etc., NORTHLAND. 23rd June, 1914. TRAM EXTENSION 10 TVK EDITOR. Sir, — I think that all sensible people will admit that the numerous critics who have recently attacked the postion of the City Engineer and councillors on the above question — have only strengthened that postion. I take it that every citizen living east of the tunnel, whether in Hataitai, Kilbirnie, Lyall Bay, Miramar, or Seatoun must recognise the following as necessary points in the route to be adopted :—: — (1) Diverting traffic as much as possible away from Hataitai tunnel. (2) Adopting the alternative route which will serve the greatest number. (3) Lowest cost to ratepayers for maximum convenience. Now, sir, if We are to divert the ir&fnd so as to ease the congestion at both ends of the tunnel, we must choose the Craw-ford-road route, as by choosing Welling-ton-road we are only adding to the congestion. Secondly, as the bulk of tho population south-east of the tunnel lives also south-east of Wellington-road, the natural route for them is via Orawfordroad. This makes no mention of tho vast number of Newtown people wishing to visit Lyall Bay by tho shortest route, and vice versa. Thirdly, as to cost to ratepayers. This matter does not seem to trouble some of your glib cOf-' respondents who would spend millions on fresh tunnels, without even consulting the ratepayers. No, sir, let us have the maximum service at the lowest cost, and I am sure every common-sense voter will realise that the Crawford-road route is the best from all points of view. — I am, etc., KILBIRNIE. 23rd June, 1914.