RIFLE SHOOTING

Evening Star, Issue 23128, 30 November 1938, Page 2

RIFLE SHOOTING

THE NATIONAL MEETING TRAVELLING CONCESSIONS SOUGHT [Pee United Press Association.] INVERCARGILL, November 29. A deputation representing rifle shooting clubs waited on the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon W. E. larry) : to-day to ask for a concession for rifle-: men attending the national meeting at Trentham. Dr A. F. Ritchie Crawford, president of the National Rifle Association, said that at one time the Rifle Association received a grant of £I,OOO a year from the Government, but some years ago when the economy axe was applied this grant was withdrawn. The privilege of giving railway warrants to riflemen attending the annual shoot at Trentham had also been discontinued, and those in far north and south felt it keenly. He would stress the necessity and advisability of restoring these warrants. Mr W. M. C. Denham, asked the Minister if he would confer with the Minister of Defence (Hon. F. Jones) and support the request. It would bo worth while from the military point of view, as the Minister of Defence was anxious to train as many men as possible to defend the country, and there was no better way than this. “The travelling expenses to Trentham are a big hurdle to working men so far away, and the trains would have to run anyway,’’ he added.

“ I believe that if ever we are engaged in a war we will have to fight it out in the hills of this country,” Mr Parry said in reply. “Mr Semple is making one of the best contributions to the defence of New Zealand by building the roads he is doing.” His own idea was to arrange with the railways, the shipping companies, and tho hotelkeepers in the slack periods so that those engaged in sport w-ou Id not be travelling at holiday times when things were busy. Mr Parry promised to confer with the Minister of Defence, stating that he thought the concession should be made.