MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5518, 19 March 1896, Page 4

MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the Association was held to-night. The following were appointed Council representatives-. — Messrs Proudfoot (Dunedin), Donald (Wairarapa), Williams (Napier), Haitian (North Canterbury), Atkinson (Taranaki), Smith (Southland), W. Ballinger (Wellington), Whitehead (South Canterbury), Hughes (Wanganui), Allport (Nelson), Creagh (Oamaru), White (Auckland) and Harding (Marlborough). It was resolved to hold the next meeting at Auckland, conditionally on getting a good range in good order and .£IOO \in cash. Mr Harman, Christchurch, raised the question of Government assistance. Mr- Seddon in September definitely stated that no assistance would be given after this year. Major Sommerville said that Mr Seddon had obviously changed his mind. Mr HallJones, representing the Government at the meeting, had emphatically stated that assistance would be forthcoming. Speaking of the Military Conference recommendation, he said that the members of the conference were enemies of the Association, and condemned it without a hearing. So far from injuring volunteering, the Association was beneficial to it. When Rifle Associations had the imprimatur of Lord Wolseley and Lord Roberts, the highest military authorities,* whose approval was of more value and weight than that of the Military Conference of New Zealand, he thought the time was near at hand when the New Zealand Rifle Association would be fully recognised by the Government. The 1897 meeting was fixed for the third week in February. It was resolved to reduce the time limit to one minute, and that in future all 2OOyds ranges should be fired in sitting or kneeling positions.