TARANAKI GROUP RIFLE MEETING.

Patea Mail, Volume XLIV, 1 December 1920, Page 4

TARANAKI GROUP RIFLE MEETING.

o IT MEAN* BUSINESS,

“It was our rapid fire which enabled our Expeditionary Force to accomplish the retreat, to turn round and face the enemy on the Marne, to light the critical battle of the first Ypros. Efficiency in the weapon gives confidence, confidence begets morale, and it was the moral of the individual soldier that saved the day.”

Such is the reminder on the best possible authority that heads the poster of the No. 8 (Taranaki) Group Eifle Meeting. It is put there as evidence that skill with the rifle as exemplified by the Taranaki Group Eifle Meeting is one of life’s realities very near to the whole community, and that the citizen soldiers, the Defence Eifle Clubs, and those keen lads, the Senior Cadets, our defenders of the future, have profited by the lessons of just wars, and it hat they mean business.

At the Group Eifle Meeting shots from jail parts of Taranaki meet in friendly rivalry, and in th£ various competitions test the nerve, will-power determination, and steadiness resultant from their training in the use of the rifle. The Group Eifle Meeting will bo held Wareroa riflerangc, at Hawera, on Friday and Saturday, 10th and Ilth December. Friday is to be entirely devoted to Senior Cadet Competitions, and on the Saturday Queen Alexandras 2nd (Wellington West Coast) .Mounted Eifles and Xlth Ecgimont (Taranaki Eifles), I—l and Defence Eifle Clubs fire each in their class. Many returned soldiers arc members of Eifle Clubs, and will, of course, fire as representatives of clubs fa which they belong. Ecturned soldiers who are not members of Eifle Clubs arc eligible, and arc cordially invited to enter and compete in events with the Territorial Force, and a special trophy has been donated by Lieut.Colonel Weston, D. 5.0., to the returned soldier competitor scoring the highest aggregate points in Eifle Chib matches Thanks to the generosity of the business men of Hawera and New 1 Ijmouth, two Challenge Shields and two Challenge Cups, twelve trophies, twelve Gold Medals, and a great number of substantial cash prizes are available for competition, and from service and from sporting view-points the programme is iu every way most attiaetive. It is hoped that no one will have any difficulty about entering. Provision is made lor the most experienced shots, as well as for the novices, who in addition to the chance of winning prizes will benefit by seeing the methods of the older hands. Those requiring entry forms should immediately apply to the nearest' Defence Office or write to the secretary, Defence Office, Hawera. Free railway tickets will be issued to aH competitors and their entrance fee entitles thorn to conveyance by motor bus from the Hawera railway station to the rifle range and return. It is important that competitors send in their entry forms as soon as possible. Friends or relatives of the competitors and the general public arc cordially invited to bo present on the range behind the firing points. Motor charabancs will take them there and back for the modest sum of l/d, and with a view to their entertainment the Hawera Citizens’ Band has kindly consented to play at the Eifle range on Saturday afternoon, December 11th. Luncheon, tea, and refreshments will be procurable on the range for competitors and public.