BOUND FOR BISLEY

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 92, 19 April 1921, Page 11

BOUND FOR BISLEY

FAREWELL TO RIFLEMAN

VJSNNELL

VALUE OF RIFLE CLUBS.

Riftamon foregathered in strong force at, the Grand Hotel yesterday afternoon for tho purpose of bidding farewell to Rifleman B. E. Vennell, the champion rifle shot for tic Dominion, who is tearing for England to represent New Zooland ai the coming' National Rifle Association mooting at Bisloy. Colonel R. J. Coiling, C.jVI.G., Chief E:;ocutivo Officer of the Dominion Kiflo Association, presided, and among those present were BrigadierGeneral G. S. R:char<l(,on, Goneral Officer in Charge of Administration. In proposing tho toast of Rifleman Vennoil's health, the chairman said tho association was sending, him Home entirely on his own merits. Ho was going with the hall-mark upon him of the. champion riflo shot for tho Dominion. He took to riflo shooting at Groymouth in 1904, and in tho same year, when he attended the D.R.A. meeting, he won the 1000 yards match. Ho did not compete at any D.R.A. meeting from then until last year. From 1905 to 1915 he attended tho Wair&rana. meeting, and, except upon one occasion, hold place among the final aggregates at thai meeting. Ho woe third in the long rinse aggregate* .".t Trenthani this year and won tho King's Prize. He had proved himself to bo a. consistent long-range ehot, and they had every confidence that, not only would ho do well as Bisley, but that he would uphold tho honour of the Dominion there. (Applause.) It wts felt that Rideman Vonnell shook} bo sent. The Ministor of Defence wits sympathetic to tho proposal, «nd. 3aid that while tho Government could not see its way to send a Now Zealand team to Bisley on account of the expense, it would do the next best thing, and contribute £200 towards the expense of sending Rifleman Vennoll. (Applause.) They, all joined, in wishing him the greatest measure- of success. (Applause.) Rifleman Vcnnell's health was then drunk with enthusiasm <md with musical honours.

In reply, Rifleman Vennoll said that by aticking to practice and clean living he hoped that he would worthily represent New Zealand at Bisley this year. (Applause.) He thanked them all for their good wijhos and the Government for sending him Home. (Applause.) The Chairman then proposed tho health of General Rich»rdßon, which fcieo was drunk with musical honours.

In replying, General Richardson mud ho hid attended in order recognise merit. It required merit to excel in anything, and it certainly required merit to become the champion riflo shot of the Dominion —it required constant practice and clean living to keep up nerve. A reference had been made by Colonel Collins to the necessity for keeping tho Rifle Clubs under the Defence Department as part of tho Defence Forc&s of the Dominion. His attitude as General Officer in Charge of Administration had never beon that Rifle Clubs should be kept entirely separate. Ho considered, however, that they should have their ovyn status and position and that the expenditure on Permanent Staff, Torritorials, and Senior Cadets, Riflo Clubs, and other services, connected with the Hefeneo of the country, should' be shown separately so that everyone could know exactly how the country's tnonoy was being expended. Ho thought that was a businesslike manner to look at it. (Hear, hoar, and applause.) That was tho only attitude he had ever takon up, and he was glad that the ex< penditure would bs so shown in future. It was only rfctfit that the Government should assist rsio shooting, not only a-s a national sport, bub in national interests. Ho would liko to see riflo clubs cat*blished throughout the Dominion, and not only rifle clubs, but miniature riflo shooting. He submitted that rifle clubs had beon dealt with fnirly generoucly by the Government, and the taxpayer of this country. They had been well treated in regard to the supply of ammunition and of rifle bmels. He wished tho riflo clubs every success. It occurred io him that many Torritorials would "like to become members, and he suggested that tho road should be .opened for them to do so, thus developing rifle shooting 1 up aiKl down tho lonijth and breadth 'of tho country. Tho rifle cluba to-tlay wore to tho Defence system what the old volunteers were in the past, and ho hoped that more of that spirit would prevail. , Ho wished Rifleman Vonnell tho greatest success at Bisley. (Applause.)