RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIX, Issue 13016, 5 January 1903, Page 3

RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING

TO THU EDITOR. Sir, —As a spectator I attended the recent Government Association meeting, which I understand is held to encourage rifle shooting amongst civilians, volunteers and members'of the defence rifle clubs, and was struck with the unfair treatment which the volunteers have to put up with compared with civilians and rifle club men. As an instance a volunteer has to appear in the uniform of his company i whereas civilians and rifle club men can shoot as they like, which i? very unfair when the volunteers are all dressed alike as regards head dress. Seme corps, however, have what is called field service hats, while others have only service caps. The man with the hat has a groat advantage over the one with the cap in the scorching sum, ,nnd even if a man should supply himself with a hat for his own convenience for shooting ho is debarred from wearing it. I don't think cases of red tape like this are likely to encourage rifle shooting amongst our citizen volunteers or anyone else. Another thing I would like to say if your columns will allow me. I believe the Government grants £137 to North Canterbury to be shot for. I would like to know who appoints the officers to manage the affair, because it appears to me to be very one-sided. The same officers appear to run the show and do just as they like as if they found the money to shoot for instead of the Government. I would further like to add that I think the way the prize money was distributed was ,a little, bit. off. It appears to mo that in the ■ officers' match, where there were only twelve men firing they received fourteen pounds, whereas jn the other matches where a hundred and seventy men were shooting they only received some sixteen pounds per match. Now that is not the way to encourage shooting amongst rifle companies as they are the shooting men and not the • officers. Nor is jt the way to enlist the sympathy of the public. I would like to see some more able pen than mine take the matter up, because, it concerns the public, as it is their money which is granted by the Government-.I am. etc., ONE INTERESTED.