ART OF SHOOTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15499, 5 January 1914, Page 9

ART OF SHOOTING.

QUESTION OF TARGETS.

NEW SCHEME CRITICISED.

"BULL'S-EYE" PREFERRED,

i he facilities for rifle-shooting in New Zealand and the deplorable lack of the support which it rightly claims, were matters commented on by ('apt. W. H. Shepherd, chairman o» the Auckland Rifle Association, at tho profanation on Saturday afternoon of prizes won at the association's meeting.

The pastime of rifle-shooting was one of the most desirable that could be followed by the men and youth of the country, said Captain Shepherd, and it wa- not only sportsmanlike but also patriotic, as the man who could shoot straight was the man who was valuable to his country. On this account he thought that Ihe rifle clubs were indeed an asset to the Dominion, and should receive mu/ li more public and Government support than they did.

lie emphasised the nece:-,«.ty of combination amongst the rif'j <1; ' " ,n their adhesion to the pn uip e of • bull's-we" shooting. Withcit speaking d:.4rirnei'tt!iy of the. Defence OcpartTif''s scheme of group i it,, rsf.t v'ngs. ne puir.tod out that they presented no incentive to excel, due to the fait that :( v...s not possible fn- a riflim. t-> min|ii'tf in more than two meetings a year, his own dislriit meeting and tue Dominion 11fl<- meeting. The fact, also, that tin e('ni]»et itors pio l ideci all moni",- for iir:/.i-s and sundry expenses, such n« ma.i ki'is' \vi.;es was a point to be I'ei-sid'

I hi., .v.ii .< liic/'tini; .it Pentose was really an jx-i inn-nt, as to the possibility oi orim lit!.: ,1 :,itiii? offering good prize money, ;u;<| ;.hu- attract largo and re | icM>i:tat o !.••.«_ continued the taptiil... I bus at; op[M,.. 11ji;t.y was SJlVe.n, to aspiring rule shot* tor, mnpcti! iuin with rn 'i.'i'iM-d inarksini'i, -.vlii. }i could not du ot(km-v. i.«e til,in help tr.-'in to 'corn thtc.in/hly Drofi. i,r:t

I apt. Slmplicrd a scheme that would solve the problem — service targets versus bull s eye target*in a Hinj/e man. nei. The s, wa, tii.it tin. Defence Department six chi .../.tinue with ,ts grmrp meet;ii:> under service conditions, that rule clubs o11• .;-J cj have their ..v r» "hulls ' ye*' ass.n :,t it >:■ met I ilia's. and that. in addition, a N;.t„,nal Kill.- Associa tion, member,-lno in which would S>> open to everybody sh. n.M bo humcd. Tiiegr«it success of the in-i tin- ju.-t ended proved that the wish of i !"!eii,( n v.a* to have the " bulls-eye.' ai.d that these men were prepared to snpp.it as.s.x-iationj that catered lor their wishes He erred that there was no legitimate reason wliv "bull's-eye" mash, i.iions should not be formed throughout the Domnieu. ami thus fall in with the do-ire of it... minksmen.