RIFLE-SHOOTING.
(To THE EDITOR OP THE ',SPECTATOR:1 Sra,—Having collected donations to supplement a Govern; ment grant towards the construction of a Volunteer rifle range in this district, I have been enabled to obtain a fair amount a _public opinion on the subject of shooting. I was very glad to see the letter signed "Cape Colonist" in the Spectator of March 23rd, and only wish there were more people in this country who would express themselves as strongly. I attended the meeting at the Mansion House on Saturday, March 23rd, called by the Lord Mayor to promote the formation of a society to aid working men's rifle clubs, and can bear out what General Luard and others said,—that the working man has neither the time to .shoot during the day nor money to spare with which to buy ammunition. I am speaking mainly of the agricultural working man; of the dwellers in towns, shopkeepers' employes for the most part, there are many who have time and would shoot if ammunition were inexpensive and facilities provided. It is curious that at a time when the use of the spade is almost as necessary in warfare as the rile, the class that can use the spade cannot learn to shoot, and the class that can learn to shoot cannot dig. The Lads' Drill Association goes far to solve some of the problems of future defence, and I trust that eventu- ally boys will be taught both drill and shooting in every school in England. In the meantime there is a whole generation of young men who must be taught, and any plan which will give these some training is worthy of consideration. There is in every. Volunteer centre a sergeant-instructor who usually has ample time to undertake the first training of all men and boys who could be collected in the villages adjacent to, as well as at, his headquarters. As an example, I find that in this place the Volunteer sergeant has the time, and is willing to give his services for 2s. 6d. per day. There are in the neighbourhood. five villages, in each of which a fair number of lads can be got together, and each village might have its day (or night) for drill, and shooting under instruc- tion without interfering -with the Volunteer headquarters. At every headquarters there ought to be a drill shed, which could be used as a Morris-tube range and gymnasium; in fact; made as attractive as possible to the lads of the neighbourhood. Such a drill shed (which need not be expensive) would enable shooting, drill, &c., to be carried on in all weathers, and above all at night, when many could attend who would be quite unable to do so at any other time. In this place I an sorry to say that the Morris-tube range used by the Volunteers is in a public-house; it cannot be for the good of the nation that shooting and drinking should be taught in the same place. but there are no individuals in this neighbourhood able to paaperise us by doing what ought to be done by the Govern- ment. I am emphasising the necessity of drill sheds wherever possible in conjunction with shooting because the cramped countryside of England is not the veldt, and renders it still more necessary that men should be taught to work in unison; neither can our lads, even when taught to shoot, be expected to have the fighting sense of the frontiersman. Surely the Government, if it cannot provide the money for drill sheds, might give the power to borrow money for such a purpose to District Councils.—I am, Sir, &c., A. H. CRA.Vgli. Tenterden, Kent.
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