RIFLE SHOOTING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11254, 5 July 1922, Page 4

RIFLE SHOOTING

AN IMPORTANT PROPOSAL CODONED COLLINS ON CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING. A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION. At the annual social evening and prize-giving of the Petoue Defence Kifle Club the toast of '“The Dominion Rifle Association Meeting” wa6 proposed by Mr D. E. Guiney and responded to by Colonel R. J. Collins. In 'his response the Colonel strongly advocated the formation of a National Rifle Association with affiliated members from the whole of New Zealand, which association would have entire charge of and conduct the. New Zealand rifle championship meeting. He believed that if this were done the only help required from the Government would be the use of the Trentham rifle range, aumunition and railway passes which he believed the Government would readily give. He instanced the fact that the championship meeting held at Papawni this year was a success even in the face of the fact that competitors had to pay all their own expenses. Certain resolutions for the carrying on of the championship meeting were passed by assembled riflemen at Papawai, and these had been Forwarded to the Government, but up to the present no reply had been received, and the attitude of the Government on the matter was at present unknown. He strongly urged all rifle clubs to get busy and suggested the New Zealand rifle clubs’executive should be called together very soon and give the matter consideration.