Rifle Clubs.

Hastings Standard, Volume V, Issue 1299, 17 August 1900, Page 4

Rifle Clubs.

(By Telegraph. Wellington, August 16. Several members of a deputation waited upon the Premier yeterday in regard to the conditions of the formation of rifle clubs. Resolutions passed at the meeting of Taranaki delegates held at Stratford recently, were laid befo e the Premier, who promised that they would receive the consideration of the Ministry. Mr Seddon said he thought it would be reasonable to allow men over 35 years of age to form rifle clubs in districts where there wero already volunteer corjjs. In districts where there were no volunteer corps men of any age might be allowed to form rifle clubs. In cases where there were several villages or districts in close proximity 11 might be arranged to have one club for them all, with sections having a minimum membership of ten men in each village or district generally. His desire was to lift rifle club 3 into a position which they had never had before in this couDtry; mote particularly did he want to have trained shots in sparsely populated districts. It would be beftter for the Government to take half-paynient for the weapons iu the first year, and the balance in the second year, rather than rent rifles. His present proposal was to allow members of rifle clubs 50 rounds of ammunition in their first year, and 100 rouuds per annum thereafter. To give them a good start he would be prepared to make the allowance for the first year 100 rounds. Also, it was necessary that rifle clubs should not militate against volunteer corps, but, at the same time, elderly men should have the opportunity of taking up arms in the former associations.