FIRST ANNUALDINNER

Southland Times, Issue 23306, 16 September 1937, Page 8

FIRST ANNUALDINNER

MINIATURE RIFLE ASSOCIATION GROWTH OF BODY TRACED The growth of the Southland Miniature Rifle Association, which, although formed only a year ago, is now the biggest in New Zealand, was referred to at the first annual dinner and presentation of prizes held last night. City and country clubs were strongly represented. The president of the association (Mr D. G. Davies) was chairman. Proposing the toast of “The Association,” Mr W. Aitken traced the history of the organization in Southland and paid a tribute to the energy and enthusiasm of the president. Great progress had been made in the sport since the formation of the association and the association’s range was now one of the most up-to-date in New Zealand, he said. In England before the war the value of training in shooting afforded by the miniature rifle sport was recognized by the defence authorities and he suggested that the New Zealand Defence Department should encourage the sport to a greater extent than at present. In his reply, the president said that the association had made phenomenal progress in its first year. A great measure of support had been accorded to the sport by the business men of the town. When the association was first mooted there had been only seven clubs in Invercargill and there were now 27 in the province affiliated with the association. The generous support of the donors of prizes had ensured the success of the association and he mentioned particularly the presentation of a handsome championship teams shield by Mr R. J. Gilmour and the presentation of cups by the Amateur Sports Trust. The association was now faced with the problem of securing a new central range and it was hoped that further progress would be made. The movement was now strongly established. The chairman paid a tribute to the work of the secretary (Mr A. Pomeroy). Mr R. Graham, who proposed a toast to country clubs, said that there were eight town clubs and 19 country clubs. The sport was very strong in the country districts, the Mossbum Club having 97 members and the Fortrose Club more than 60. The social aspect of rifle shooting was much more highly developed in the country centres and the city clubs might well take a lesson from the outer districts.

The president presented the following trophies:— Southland Times Shield.—lnvercargill No. 2 team (J. Keelty, F. G. Henderson, R. Sloan, J. Archer, B. Darroch).

Sports Trust Cups.—A grade championship, G. Wilson (Invercargill); B grade championship, J. S. Walker (Waiau). Southland News Cup, Women’s Championship.—Mrs J. B. Doake (Invercargill Lades’ Club). The secretary (Mr A. Pomeroy) made a presentation of a pair of book-ends to the president, praising the enthusiasm of Mr Davies in establishing the association and ensuring its success so that it was now the biggest in New Zealand. > Other toasts honoured were:—“Kindred Sports” (proposed by Mr R. T. Barnett and responded to by Messrs W. T. Hannon and A. R. Wills); “Country Clubs” (proposed by Mr W. Graham and responded to by Messrs T. C. Ruddenklau, Fortrose, W. Blatch, Mossburn, and B. Brookes, Waiau; “Donors of Trophies” (proposed by the president and responded to by Mr A. Hamilton). During the evening musical items were given by Messrs S. Brewer, S. Richards, T. Henderson, R. Graham and D. Collie. Mr S. Richards led community singing.