May 5.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 1569

from the district, and any active member so absent, except on leave obtained from the President of the club, shall be liable to be struck off the strength of the club to which he belongs.

665. Any active member on leaving the area in which his club is located may, at his own request made in writing to the club President, be transferred to a club convenient to his intended place of residence; provided that the transfer is approved by the President of the club to which transfer is sought.

666. Any member of a club may be recommended by the President to be struck off the roll for misconduct or for other sufficient cause, the existence and sufficiency of such cause to be determined by the committee of the club.

667. The O.C. District may dismiss any member of a Rifle Club for a breach of these regulations, or for any conduct which, in his opinion, may bring discredit on Rifle Clubs.

CONTROL.

668. All orders and directions of the G.O.C. with respect to the administration of Rifle Clubs will be communicated by the O.C. District to the Officer i/c Area Group, who will issue the necessary orders to give effect to the same.

669. Every club shall elect a committee, consisting of a President, Secretary, Treasurer, and four members; and the private property of the club shall be vested in such committee.

670. Presidents shall maintain order and discipline amongst the members of their Rifle Club at all rifle practices and other meetings thereof, whether general or committee, and shall be responsible for the proper carrying-out of all orders and regulations that may be issued from time to time. It shall be the special duty of the President to see that rifle practice is carried out with due precaution to the safety of the public and all concerned, but he may appoint any member of the club to perform such duties as his deputy when he cannot attend personally.

671. At all times when members of Rifle Clubs are carrying out training or rifle practice under these regulations, or rules thereunder, the regulations for the time being governing the Military Forces shall be followed in all matters of discipline not dealt with under these regulations. In the absence of a duly commissioned officer, the President and the individual members of the committee are to be responsible for the maintenance of discipline and due compliance with these regulations.

672. The rules for clubs shall be modelled on the lines indicated in para. 700. §

ARMS AND AMMUNITION.

673. Presidents of clubs may, on application, be supplied with rifles and spare parts, &c., for active members of their club at the prices given from time to time in the “Ordnance Store Price-list.”

674. Magazine Lee-Enfield rifles may be sold to active members of Rifle Clubs on a deferred-payment system, the conditions of which will be published from time to time in Orders.

675. Rifles will not be sold to members of Rifle Clubs on the “deferred-payment system” unless the club undertakes to act as guarantor for the due fulfilment on the part of the purchaser of the agreement between the purchaser and the Defence Department.

676. In cases of non-payment of any instalments when due by any member, or of the breach of any condition of the agreement between the purchaser and the Defence Department, the Rifle Club of which the purchaser is or was a member shall be responsible for, and shall on demand pay the amount due.

677. The privilege of purchasing rifles from the Government by active members of Rifle Clubs is subject to a sufficient supply of rifles being available for this purpose, and may be withdrawn at any time at the discretion of the G.O.C.

678. Members of clubs will be required to keep their arms and accoutrements in good order, and to produce them for inspection when called upon. No member may dispose of the rifle purchased by him to another member of the club, or to the club, until three years after such purchase, except on approval of the President.

679. No rifle purchased by a member of a Rifle Club from the Government may be taken out of the Dominion.

680. Ammunition supplied by the Government as a free issue will be delivered free at any railway-station in the vicinity of the club.

681. In the case of rifles, ammunition, and other stores supplied by the Government, either by purchase or on loan, the freight will be paid by the club.

682. The President of the club, or, in his absence, a member authorized by him in writing, shall sign the receipt for such, or any other article of Government property issued for the use of members of the club. He will be held responsible for their safe custody and proper distribution, and will issue no article without obtaining the written receipt of the member to whom he issues it.

683. The following free issues of ammunition will be granted subject to the conditions laid down in para. 684:—

(1.) For each active member . . . 150 rounds annually.

(2.) Where field firing can be carried out in a locality considered absolutely safe by the O.C. District, a special allowance of 20 rounds per man. This allowance, however, will only be granted when arrangements can be made for the ammunition to be expended under the supervision of an officer of the Military Forces not below the rank of Captain.

684. Ammunition issued free annually to clubs for the use of members is to be expended during the year for which it is issued. Ammunition is not to be accumulated from year to year. Presidents of clubs will furnish a yearly return to District Headquarters on or before the 15th May in each year, showing the balance of musketry ammunition on hand; and such unexpended balance shall be deducted from the issue for the following year.

685. Each active member of a Rifle Club shall be entitled to purchase 200 rounds of ammunition per annum at a reduced rate.

686. Presidents of clubs will make arrangements for the collection of empty cartridge-cases, and for the disposal of the same; the proceeds of the sale of such empty cases to be credited to club funds, and to be used only for club purposes.

ANNUAL COURSE OF MUSKETRY.

687. Every active member of a Rifle Club will fire a prescribed annual course of musketry as laid down in the “N.Z. Musketry Instructions.”

688. The nominal rolls furnished to Area Sergeant-majors at the end of each training-year will show that this has been done.

689. Any active member who has not fired this course will be struck off the strength of the club.

690. Rifle practice shall only be carried out on ranges which have been inspected and passed by the Defence Department authorities.

691. Units of the Territorial Force and Senior Cadet Companies have priority of claim to the use of any Government range.

692. If any accident should happen to a marker or to any other person while practice is proceeding on the rifle range, the same must be reported in writing at once by the President of the club to the headquarters of the nearest Infantry battalion or Mounted regiment.

RETURNS.

693. On or before the 15th May in every year the President of each club shall prepare and forward to the Area Sergeant-major a nominal roll on the prescribed form showing:—

(1.) The names of all active members of the clubs on the last day of April.

(2.) The number of the rifle in each member’s possession.

(3.) The drills and musketry performed by each active member during the year.

694. Any Rifle Club which fails to furnish this return, or furnishes a return which, in the opinion of the O.C. District, is unsatisfactory, shall be reported to the G.O.C., who, if he thinks fit, may recommend that such club shall be disbanded.

UNIFORM.

695. A pattern of service dress has been approved, and may be worn by members of Rifle Clubs. It will not be issued free, and its provision is optional. Uniform will only be worn when at training, or when performing military duty, or on other occasions when uniform is authorized to be worn. Commissioned officers will wear the uniform to which they are entitled.

696. Active members of Rifle Clubs who are still serving in the Territorial Force Reserve will wear the uniform of their unit or corps; otherwise no member of a Rifle Club, as such, shall wear any uniform except that authorized for Rifle Clubs in the “N.Z. Clothing and Equipment Regulations.” Badges and chevrons of rank laid down for officers and men for the Permanent and Territorial Forces will not be worn with this uniform.

RAILWAY WARRANTS.

697. Active members of Rifle Clubs will be entitled to railway warrants (second class) when proceeding to the nearest rifle range to carry out practice or drill.

698. Warrants will be issued by the authorized officer as described in paras. 428–437.

699. No railway warrants will be issued to members of Rifle Clubs to visit rifle meetings or the ranges of other clubs for purposes of competitions except by the special authority of the G.O.C.

MODEL RULES.

700. In drawing up the rules for Rifle Clubs, the following shall be taken as a model:—

Rules of the Rifle Club.

(1.) This club shall be known as the Rifle Club.

(2.) No person shall be admitted as a member of the club unless proposed by two or more members of the club, except in the case of a transfer, which is provided for by para. 665 of the regulations, and on payment of such entrance fee and annual subscription as may be fixed by the by-laws.

(3.) The business of the club shall be managed by a committee consisting of the President, Secretary, Treasurer, and four members, three to form a quorum.

(4.) The office-bearers and members of committee shall be elected at the annual meeting of the club, which shall be held on such date as may be fixed by the by-laws.

(5.) Any office-bearer or member of committee being absent without leave for three consecutive meetings of the committee shall be liable, at the discretion of the committee, to have his seat declared vacant.