A MARLBOROUGH (?) TEAM.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 139, 14 June 1913, Page 8

A MARLBOROUGH (?) TEAM.

[to the emtok.]

Sir,—As one keenly . interested in rifle shooting, I. would like to ask 'the Maryborough Rifle Union through the medium of your paper, what system (if any) was used to select a team of riflemen to compete against the battleship on Tuesday last. I think a fitting term would 'be the Zam-Buk system (i.e., "rub it in"). It is, however, quite evident that it was not a representative team of the best shots in the district, although I must admit that a few of them were included. Failing this one would naturally expect that the ne^ft best thing to do, as the team was supposed to have been one selected out of the Union, that two members out of each affiliated club be selected. But -what do we read in last Monday's paper (the night previously to the match)? That members had heen chosen from the following clubs: Tua Marina R.C. (3). including the selector; Mounted Rifles Reserve (3), with another selector; Blenheim Defence R.C. (3), | Sounds R.C. (1); Linkwater R.C | "passed over" (Zam-Buk applied), although this club includes riflemen-, in tho front rank of the sport to-day. Then, to add insult to injury, when this team of ten arrived at Picton on the morning of the match, the "selected selectors" decided to make their numbers up to twelve strong, again passing over the Linkwater

Club and Waitohi Rifles on their own range, and adding two more men from the Sounds Club. Of course, Picton should feel satisfied, because it had the honor of being asked at a late hour on Saturday to have the targets put in good order tor the match on Tuesday morning. I_Jhink that riflemen from Pioton and Mahakipawa hare every reason to feel that they have been slighted, which tea discredit to the seleotors. of the Kifle Union, and if the sport is to prosper certainly oalk for a change m the management of its ag^j. f g_ BYß>