ENCOURAGEMENT OF RIFLE SHOOTING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8980, 14 November 1907, Page 5

ENCOURAGEMENT OF RIFLE SHOOTING.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF DEFENCE. By Telegraph— Parliamentary Correspondent. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. "The Council of- Defence," said the Acting Minister of Defence in f,he House to-day, in reply to a question, "is giving consideration to the question of encouragement and training in rifle shooting. The facilities for instruction have been much extended lately, and will in due course be made, rare inclusive. An officer has also oeen recently appointed to superintend rifle clubs alone. There •are 190 rifle ranges in the dominion. with a large number of targets on some of them. The school cadet movement is controlled by the Department of Education. The concessions made at present to defence rifle •clubs ate an increase of free ammunition up to 120 rounds annually, while each member is allowed to purchase 100 rounds at the very reduced price of 5s per 100, and the issue of free railway passes to the annual meet Tig of the New Zealand Rifle Association and also for competitions in districts up to 100 miles. Members are also allowed to earn a marksman's badge. Clubs, in addition to a course of class firing, drill at least or.ca quarterly, and submit to discipline on rifle range. They are also allowed to purchase at bare cost. £I,OOO annually is voted for the expenses o? the New Zealand Rifle Association, and many rifle clubs now compete; £450 is also voted for competitions in various centres of the dominion open to the public, at which rifle clubs and public school cadets may compete. £SOO is about to be expended in obtaining champion belts for competition. The capitation of defence cadets has been raised to 12s 6d, and an additional annual allowance of fifty rounds free ammunition granted. Municipal bodies have now, under section 361 of "The Municipal Corporations Act, 1900," legal_ authority to encourage rifle shooting. It would help very much if they would assist. The question raised by ihe honourable gentleman will re- • cene the further and continuous attention of the Council during the recess. The inducements have thus this year been much increased."