NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION AND RIFLE CORPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9624, 24 September 1894, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION AND RIFLE CORPS.

Major Somerville, the chairman of the New Zealand Rifle Association, has been in communication with Mr. W. B. White, late captain ot the Gordon Rifles and one of the council of the Association, and has forwarded bo him a circular on the subject of rifle corps. He thought in the interests of the Association that steps should be taken bo pub rifle clubs on a better footing than they are at present. He asked for an expression of opinion from Auckland members on the subject, and for the purpose of eliciting this expression of opinion a meeting of the Auckland members of the Association and others interested will be held thie evening at the Drill Shed. The circular sets out that it is proposed to ask rifle clubs having a membership of twenty to affiliate with the Association ; that all affiliated and registered rifle clubs shall be entitled to all the privileges and concessions given by the Association at the annual prize meeting ; that the Association shall issue to each affiliated club a bronze medal, to be competed for annually on their own range, and the winner shall be entitled to his membership in the New Zealand Rifle Association for the year in which he is winner ; that a special match be included in the annual programme, open only to winners of bronze medals; that the annual fee for affiliation shall be £2, which shall include the cost of the bronze medal, and that any rifle corps can on payment of £2 receive the bronze medal for competition, the winner to have his subscription to the association free and to compete in the special match, for bronze medal winners. These are the questions which the meeting will have to discuss bo-nighb, and in order bo have bhe fullesb information, Mr. White has written bo Major Somerville for answers bo the following questions : — 1. Membership : Must clubs be composed only of civilians, or may members of different corps band together as clubs? 2. Clubs may enter teams, I suppose. This is allowed ow. 3. Is a fresh medal issued every year ? If so, of course ib becomes bhe; property of the winner, and can it be worn on uniform ? 4. Are all winners allowed to compete year by year in this match, or only the winners for the year of meeting? The answers forwarded by Major Somerville are : — 1. volunteers cannot enter for association matches as members of rifle clubs, and both must in future be distinct and separate. 2. Affiliated clubs only will have the privilege of firing for the belt, and free passes on railway. 3. Yes; a medal will be given every year, and becomes the winner's own property, with the right to wear it, as gold and silver medals are now. 4. This the Council must decide. My idea was thab bhe winner of the medal should compete on that year only, bub your question raises a larger question, and I shall be glad of your opinion. In conclusion, Major Somerville asks, "Is there any hope of Auckland getting up an exhibition in 1896 ? Dunedin had one in 1889. Why don't your people have a try at ib ? The Federal match is to be tired in New Zealand in 1896. Why don't you try for it?