THE SENIOR CADETS’ SHOOTING PRIZE.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XV, Issue 230, 22 November 1912, Page 2

THE SENIOR CADETS’ SHOOTING PRIZE.

The movement launched hy Mrs Codlcy for the collection of Si-uior Cadet Shooting-prize Funds veins to he meeting Avith success. The first patriotic impulse to subscribe to anything considered helpful lias aw pretty nearly spent itself, anil the collectors are reporting that then; is now apparent a disposition to ■ interrogate as to the details of the | scheme. Detailed information as to what is to be done with the money is not, however, readily available, and collectors, in consequence, are experiencing not a little embarrassment. Many citizens who have in their younger days taken pan in prize-firings, s how a disposition to be critical, being naturally inclined to offer advice as the result of their experience. Some of these suggest the purchase of a handsome district trophies to be won and held only vdiilc the winner remains unbeaten. Such are known as “traveller” cups or shields, as the case might be. They could be offered for competition cither by individual members of the corps or by teams. The Wairaate Godley Fund Committee lias alread yaffirmed the principle of pay-: ing contributions into a national fund. This may be very good, but if some places raise large sums, such as Auckland city did in the first few weeks, Miiile others give next to nothing, general satisfaction cannot ensue from a uniform per capita allocation of the funds over the whole Dominion. We ourselves would prefer to see a teams match trophy established for the Senior Cadets of South Canterbury ami North Otago, the firings to take place, say on Sat-: urdays, at various centres through-; out the district. Some half-dozen corps could then enter teams. This class of competition engenders a much finer spirit of sportsmanship than individual prize firing does. Each team is allowed to have a “coach,” even on the range; and the struggle evolves the success of the team whose average score is the best on the day,a ml whose general shooting right through the season is the most accurate. Individual prize competitions sometimes engcii-; dor exclusiveness, selfishness, and a stinting of the generous impulses of youth. Moreover, the desire to seen,rci a {dace in the corps Senior Team will induce keener interest and steadier practice with the best kind of young fellow than ever pot-hunting avill do. Let each member of the winning team have a medal to mark the occasion, by all means. Even in the case of unsuccessful teams, let the member , with the highest aggregate be presented with a small trophy as his private possession, but cschcM r pot-hunting.