RIFLE SHOOTING

Evening Star, Issue 20998, 12 January 1932, Page 5

RIFLE SHOOTING

MEETING OF OTAGO ASSOCIATION

The fifty-seventh annual meeting of the Otago.Rifle Association was held in the Y.M.C.A. club rooms last night. There was a good attendance of members. Colonel E. R. Smith (president) was in the chair. In moving the adoption of the annual report, which has been published, the Chairman stated that it made satisfactory and pleasant reading. There were rifle clubs being formed in various parts of the province, due largely to the activity of the association and the hope of the members to try their skill against other rifle shots. These clubs were generally organised by old rifle shots, and the young men who joined could rely on receiving a good training. In the dominion there were not nearly enough young men who could shoot well, and good rifle shots were absolutely necessary to a country like New Zealand, not for offensive, but defensive purposes. In the old days, when the speaker started shooting, there were not many fine points in rifle shooting, but now many factors entered into the training of a good marksman, and these required a great deal of practice before he could be considered a first 7 class rifle shot. The balance-sheet was read, and both report and balance-sheet were adopted. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year;—Patron, the Hon. J. 6. Cobbe; vice-patron, Colonel S. C. P. Nicholls; president, Colonel E. R. Smith; vice-presidents—Colonels J. M. Boyne, J. H. Moir, J. A. P. Eredric, Majors 0. H. Mead, F. Waite, and P. Mackenzie, Captain G. Proudfoot, Mr R. S. Black, Mr W. B. Taverner, and the presidents of rifle clubs in Otago; secretary and treasurer, Rifleman 0. H. M‘Keich; auditor, President W. Banner-man; executive—Presidents R. Bruce and W. Bannerman, Deputy-president F. Clayton, Riflemen R. Johnston, P. Fennessey, W, M'Keich, J. M‘Knight, W. Graham, H. Whitehead, and D. Parsons. It was resolved that the New Zealand Rifle Clubs’ Executive, Wellington, be asked to get into touch with the Government, asking for an extension of the time for the return of rifles on issue from the Defence Department. A recommendation from the executive was accepted—that in future the Ladies’ Challenge Shield be shot for by teams of five men from any defence rifle club, Territorial or Cadet company in Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, and that the animal rifle meeting extend for three full days.

The annual prize-firing was fixed for March 25, 26, and 28. In recognition of his many years of service in connection with rifle shooting, Ex-president F. J. Silvius was elected a life member of the association.