NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19764, 15 April 1926, Page 5

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION

EARL JELLICOE CHAIRMAN. TRIBUTE TO LORD CHEYLESMORE. (From Odb Own Correspondent.) LONDON, February 26. In his new capacity as chairman of the National Ritie Association, Admiral of the Fleet Earl Jellicoe presided over a largely attended winter general meeting at the Royal United Service Institution, Whitehall, when he reviewed the activities of the association during the past year. Prior to presenting the report and bailee sheet for 1825, Earl Jellicoe referred i* the late Lord Cheylesmore. “I feel, h,i said, “that you would wish me to allude to the great services he rendered to this association and to the grievous loss we have suffered by his death- Erom the earlv of the association, Lord Cheylesmore identified himself personally with its work, first as a cadet shooting for Eton and later as camp commandant, as a vicepresident, and as a member of the council. Since 1903, as chairman of that body, lie wisely guided its policy and took a wholehearted an dactive part in its activities at home and overseas. The loss of an esteemed chief whose unfailing tact and geniality endeared him to all with whom he was associated would be widely deployed by riflemen throughout the Em: pipe, ” He also referred to the death of other well-known supporters of the association, among whom were Field-marshal the Earl of Ypres (a vice-president), Colonel Lord Waleran (a vice-president), Colonel W. Marsden (also a vice-president), Admiral Sir Charles Dimdas, the Marquis of Ripon, Admiral C. F. Walker, Mr L. D. Ranken (a prominent match rifle shot/, Mr Harry Wood (a well-known service rifle shot, who was a i ember of the last British team to visit Australia), and Major P, T. Godsal, a regular attendant at Wimbledon and Bisley, who was keenly interested in the improvement of rifles and sights. A £2OOO OFFER. The report, from a shooting point -of view was satisfactory, but unsatisfactory in its financial aspect. Concerning the appeal for financial assistance which the Prince of Wales made at the Mansion House, the chairman was able to introduce a new and encouraging note. The response to the appeal produced a total sum of £18,198 8s 3d. That sum fell short by some £SOOO of the association’s indebtness. “I have to announce’’ Lord Jellicoe said “ a most generous offer from a gentleman who prefers to remain anonymous. This gentleman offers -> ndonation of £2OOO provided the association itself can raise the of £3OOO by next July. The association lias over 3000 members, and therefore it should not be an impossible task for us to free ourselves from debt.” A match has been instituted in connection with the Imperial Challenge Shields Competition, for teams of not less than 2000 boys representative of each country and dominion of the Empire, for a trophy presented by the King. The match, which was the greatest sporting contest in existence in the point of the numbers competing, would not only increase the popularity of the competitions for boys, but would bring vast numbers of his Majesty’s young subjects into close and friendly ririvalry— (Hear, hear). It also afforded a fair comparison of their efficiency with the rifle in each part of the Empire. The number of cadets who shot in the competition for the King’s Shield—open to Home cadet units —was 1400, an increase of nearly 400 on the competitors in 1924, tut the number competing in comparison with the number of cadet units still in existence was disappointing. Referring to the accounts, Lord Jellicoe said these showed a deficit of £963 odd, and £856 of this was due to the loss on the catering account. The Bisley account showed a balance of £651 15s 9d, and this amount would have been higher had the association not had to bear the cost of transport, and camping and the range and butts personnel. Lieut.-Colonel Sir P. Richardson, M.P. (vice-chairman), seconded the adoption of the report, which was agreed to without discussion. On the motion of Major Varley, cordial thanks were passed to Lord Jellicoe who in a brief acknowledgement said he would do his best to carry on the great work which Lord Cheylesmore had so successfully accomplished