THE CENTRAL

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 56, 7 March 1911, Page 2

THE CENTRAL

INTERVIEW

WITH COLONEL

COLLINS

The "centralj'" which has been introduced this year for the first time, has caused no end of criticism, and not a little uneasiness on the part of competitors. The main object of tho central is to decide ities, but the rules laid down for the decision of ties have defeated the object of the central, hence the dissatisfaction.

In the Wellington Match on Friday, ten shots at 600 yards, Lancer Corporal J. Hunt, of the Post and Telegraph Rifles, and Rifleman C. J: Franklin, of Weber, , t tied with the possible; of 50, the scares being as follow (the V. denoting a central): —- Hunt ... V 5555 55 5 5 V—so Franklin V V V V V 5 V V 5 5—50.

The bull's-eye at the l-ange over which the match was fired has a -diameter of 20 inches, while the diameter of the central is 12 inches. On the actual shooting Franklin's performance was far ahead of Hunt's, but the rules of the association made Hunt's shoot the better on the "count back," the rule in individual shooting stating, inter alia: ; Ties shall be decided \. - by the value of each shot in inverse

order, such value being in the case of central six marks. ... For the purposes of scoring the central counts 5 points, the same as a bull's-eye, so that when it came to a "count back" Hunt got first place because he finished with a central, while Franklin finished with a bull'seye. On the interpretation of the rules this was the only decision that could be given, although there was a difference of opinion among some members of the council, the prize^list even being reposted at one stage with Franklin appearing as the winner.

It was finally decided to appeal, to Colonel Collins and he gave his decision on the interpretation of the rales in favour of Hunt.

A New Zealand Times representative waited on Colonel Collins and risked for an explanation. "The regulations for ties," said the Colonel, "were copied from the programme book of. the last Bisley meeting, but as soou as I was informed of the position that had arisen in the Wellington Match I recognised what an absurd rule it was. I have since looked up all the papers relating to the last Bisley meeting and find that the rule caused such, dissastisfaction that an amendment was made on the second day, and instead of counting back in the first instance as we have done according to the rules, the tie is won by the marksman making the most centrals. If two men tie and each have the same number of centrals then the count back takes place as usual. In regard to the case in dispute we have to go by the rule, but the question is now under consideration by the Executive Council with a view to making an alteration in line with the amended Bisley rule, to hold good from Monday.'*

The Colonel indicated that the executive would take care to see that no competitor would suffer monetary loss owing to the hardship created by the rule as it stands in tho book at present.