POSITION OF RIFLE CLUBS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 35, 9 August 1930, Page 8

POSITION OF RIFLE CLUBS

(To the Editor.) Sir,— Recently the Minister of Defejict' Stated in the House that the effect of th« pefence "cut" on rifle clubs would be t» increase their ammunition grant. As thii would convey little to many! of the public, I would be grateful if you would allow me to mention, through your columns, some points relating to rifle clubs. Tha State assistance granted' includes:—(l) 150 rounds, ammunition per annum per rifleman; (2) an unlimited supply of ammunition at £2 15s per 1000, purchased by Government at £9 per 1000; (3) fret railway warrants to attend N.R.A. meeting; (4) free ammunition for N.R.A. meet" ing (about £900); (5) £1000 for N.R.A. meeting; (6) the use of Government rifl« ranges; (7) the services of highly trained staff officers and warrant pfiicers to assist; at N.R.A. meeting. There may be othe? benefits such as administration, etc. A conservative estimate of the value of th.« above would be £10,000 per annum.

When a rifleman is asked to justify this expenditure he says that the clubs do th« required service shooting and that we must have snipers for Our army. It njusfc be admitted that several clubs do very fine service shooting in a diluted form, but as their members are largely over agei or physically unfit their value as a de* fence asset does not amount to much. At far as snipers go, a division requires about one only in four hundred for snip ing duties on odd occasions, so here again the expense cannot be justified. Of th« men who were members of rifle clubs in August, 1914, only 5 per cent, fought with the infantry, the majority were over age or unfit, and a few joined units in which their rifle training was of no use. I submit, Sir, that considering the clubs had received State assistance for, many years before the war the 5 per cent, cost at least £1000 each prior to going into camp. The question arises: Why do the rifls clubs survive? I think there can be one answer only: no member of Parliament will risk incurring the displeasure of th« numerous riflemen. Who !b paying fop all this? If this sport is to be. subsidised, will the Minister of Defence consider * grant for cricket, tennis, golf, etc.? In conclusion, Sir, I can only say: "Thank God we have fifty little cruisers left."—l am, etc., CRICKET.

"Multum in Parvo" expresses dissatis* faction in a letter to the editor at tha reply made by the chairman of the Milk Committee of the City Council to his letter of a few days ago, and makes the following additional points: Was the City Council not ill-advised to instal, in a country so far from its origin, machinery so costly and intricate as to require the services of an expert to operate it? At the conclusion of the two years will not an'expert still be required for the ensuing period? If an expert is required to operate tha plant when new, will he not be more imperatively necessary when wear sets in and repairs and renewals have to b» made?