POSITION OF RIFLE CLUBS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1745, 16 August 1905, Page 63

POSITION OF RIFLE CLUBS.

SOME COMPLAINTS. Rifle Clubs received some consideration last week in the House of Representatives during consideration of the Estimates. Mr W. Fraser mentioned that members of these clubs had purchased MartiniEnfield rifles last year, and now found that they were not up tc the mark for accurate and good shooting. Members wanted to b«ive Lee-Enfield rifles and were willing to purchase them.. But they wanted the Government to allow them something on the rifles they wished to discard, and, speaking for at least one club, he stated that the Government had refused to give a penny piece for them. Mr Field said the Karori Rifle Club had had their I‘ange cut up,, and had had to find another practising ground. The cost ■to members amounted to several shillings a week. Mr Seddon said rifle clubs were of material advantage to the defence of the colony. Mr Buchanan: Why don't you give effect to that opinion ? Mr Seddon: I have done so. If hon members were behind the scenes they would realise this. Members of rifle clubs bad more concessions now than previously, and if in the new regulations there. had been any curtailment of privileges he would regret it, because it was inadvertent. As regards railway passes, the clubs were asking for the same rights in the matter as volunteers. The Karori Club wanted passes to Trentham when they could get the Polhill Gully range. Mr Field : They can't get it. Mr Seddon: There is nothing to prevent it. However, the matter of railway passes is under consideration, and I hope before next session to give reasonable concessions. He objected to the clubs desiring the Government- to take over obsolete rifles and hand back newer patterns. He would ratner give them new rifles at <£l discount, and he would favourably consider that way of getting over the old rifle difficulty.