The Home Secretary (Mr. Akers Douglas), when presenting prizes to
the Whitstable Rifle Club on Wednesday, made some very sensible remarks as to rifle shooting. The first qualification of every soldier was to know how to carry and handle a rifle with effect. In modern warfare such powers were more desirable than smartness in parade movements. In these days of ex- tended order and invisible foes nothing gave the soldier more confidence than the knowledge that he had implicit trust in his weapon. Such confidence was only acquired by practice, and those who desired to become proficient could not do better than join a rifle club. The lesson of the Boer War was that all men should be made expert in the use of the rifle. Replying to the chairman, he promised to approach the Secretary for War with regard to cheaper ammunition, but could hold out no hope of success. All this is sound, but Mr. Akers Douglas must do more. He must persuade his col- leagues to take what is to them the apparently appalling step of granting the 10s. gun license free to any man who can present a marksman's certificate at a post office, and will register his name and address. At present a man's attempts to perfect himself with the rifle often lead either to the State fining him 10s. or to a breach of the law on his part. Even when in a rifle club it is only by the grace and favour of Somerset House that his technical breach of the law does not land him in the Police Court.
Previous page
