RIFLE-SHOOTING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7139, 28 May 1910, Page 16

RIFLE-SHOOTING

ASSISTANCE TO COUNTRY CLUBS. CHEAPER AMMUNITION ASKED TOR. The Wellington executive of the Farmers' Union intends formulating a scheme for placing country rifle clubs on a better basis. Branches are being ashed to go into tho matter and submit suggestions to the executive. The chief complaint is in regard to the cost of ammunition. This is supplied by tho •Government at 10s a hundred rounds, but if a member of a rifle club qualifies by undergoing a certain test (firing from behind sand banks, through loop-holes, etc.,) he is supplied with 120 rounds at ss. It is contended, how’ever, that this is practically no*concession, as by the time tho test field firing is got through tho ammunition supplied at the concession rate is exhausted, and the rifleman has to pay full rates for his« ordinary shooting. It is being urged that at least 500 rounds at 5s should be available each year for qualified marksmen. At present it costs a little over 2s for an afternoon's practice, which is a tax on many young men in the country. Sneaking of this matter Mr O. P. Lynch, of Paraparaumu, says the farmer should certainly receive more encourage-

mont, as if it should happen that the country would require defending this would largely depend on the marksmen of country districts. Tho Farmers* Union was encouraging tho sons of farmers to become proficient in the use of the rifle, and with fairly satisfactory results. At present unionists were awaiting, the result of the firing for the cup presented by the union. His own branch of the union had put up an excellent score of an average of 88 for six men. J. Whiting made 93 and Cordukcs 92. As the conditions are somewhat unusual this was undoubtedly good shooting. The competitor must stand at the 200yda, kneel at the 300yds and Jay prone at tho sDoyd.p. At the two shelter distances there must not be an interval longer than four seconds between tho shots.