Nottinghamshire Rifle Association

THE ROBIN HOOD RIFLE RANGE.

IMPORTANT DECISION.

The Mayor rose and said he begged to propose that a special committee should be appointed to consider the petition from the Robin Hood Rifles as to the provision of a new rifle range, consisting of Sir. John Turney, Ald. Pullman, Lambert, Goldschmidt, Ford, and Fraser; Councillors Brownsword, Fitzhugh, Green, Hunter, Elborne, Lucas, Adams, Skerritt and G. Robinson.
Mr. Brownsword seconded.

Ald. Sands said that they had just had a discussion as to £100, and it appeared to him that they were straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel. A more astonishing proposition to make to the Council at the present time could not be conceived of. He proposed that the petition should lay on the table for consideration that day six months.
Mr. Lovett said that he was rather surprised that Ald. Sands should raise such an objection. There was a rather large body of men in the Robin Hoods.
The Mayor said that all he asked for was that the committee should be appointed to consider the petition, and report at a later meeting. Then they could discuss the matter fully.
He was proceeding to put the motion, when Ald. Gripper said that he would like to express his opinion, and he thought that the matter was being rather forced on the Council. There was the preliminary question whether they should entertain the idea and take it up. It certainly ought to have the careful and cautious consideration of the Council, and with all deference to the Mayor, he imagined that Ald. Sand's proposition ought to be put.
Mr. Bentley suggested that the Mayor should divide his proposition, putting the question as to the appointment of a committee first, and allowing the names to be decided upon afterwards.
The Mayor said he thought it was decided upon at the last meeting to refer the matter to that assembly, and he was of opinion that they could not have had a more correct way of doing the business than the one he had proposed. Discussion would take place in the proper way when the report of the committee was brought forward.

Ald. Sands said that he must again object. They did not know before there had been any discussion whether all those who had been named were in favour of granting the request of the petition or not, or whether they represented all parties. He protested most strongly.
Mr. Sutton asked that the names should be read again, and this was done.
Mr. G Abbott proposed that the name of Ald. Sands should be added, and Ald. Lindley seconded.
Mr. McGraith asked if they might not get some idea of the feeling of the Council as to whether the money should be provided out of the funds of the Corporation, or whether they should not lay the claims of the Robin Hoods before the War Office. He should not be disposed at the present time to provide the money out of the funds of the Corporation, but he should be disposed for the Corporation to press the matter on the Government. (Hear, hear.)

The Mayor said that all he asked for was that the Committee should be appointed to report.
Ald. Fraser said that the course that was being taken was unfortunate, because it might be taken that the matter was being forced on the Council. he thought that the motion should be divided.
Mr. J. Robinson said that that was not merely a local question, and he did not think that much would be lost by the matter being fully ventilated and discussed. He thought that the Government ought to bear some portion of the expense.
Mr. Bradley asked whether he was right in believing that the amendment had been seconded, for it was difficult for the members of the Hall to hear at the far end.
Mr. Hunter, addressing the Mayor, asked him to use his influence with the members of the hall to speak loudly. At his end of the Hall they might as well stay at home, for they could hear nothing.
Mr. Manning asked whether the Mayor would explain what the position was. He did not know whether there was an amendment before the Hall or not. They much regretted that they were not able to hear the gentlemen on the aldermanic bench.
Ald. Fraser said that the same remark applied to the gentlemen at the other end of the hall.

The Sheriff said that the question before them was this: The Robin Hoods had lost their range, they had nowhere to shoot, and they asked the Council to find one. That was a large question which could not be discussed all at once, and decided in a few minutes. There was a general feeling that they must meet the Robin Hoods in some way. Every one of them had the same feeling, and he thought it was a wise course to refer the matter to a committee. The members of it would go into details, and report the matter to the Council. That was the proposition before the Hall. If he was in order he should propose that a committee should be appointed for that purpose.
Mr. Fleeman seconded.

The Town Clerk said perhaps the Mayor was acting somewhat under what he had told him was the custom of that Hall. Sir John Turney should have been present to introduce that subject, but as he was absent it had put the Mayor in an awkward position to have to introduce it. Sir John Turney was unfortunately absent on the East Coast. So far as his experience went, no committee asked for by any member of the Council on any question had ever been refused, and the discussion came on when the report of the Committee came up, and Sir John Turney had gone away with that impression. It was within the power of the Council to have a discussion whenever they chose to do so, but that had been contrary to their custom for many years past. If there was to be discussion on it before the committee was appointed, the whole question should be adjourned to the next meeting of the Council.
The Mayor asked Ald. Sands if he would accept that.
Ald. Sands said if he was allowed to speak again on the subject he would. He had not said half of what he would like to say.(Laughter). He begged to propose the adjournment of the debate.
Ald. Lindley seconded.
Mr. John Robinson thought that was a matter that ought not to be shelved. (Hear, Hear.) This was a very large question, and he did not think any harm would be done if it was fully discussed. The Government had a responsibility, and they ought in every possible way to see that the matter should be carried out, and it would be far better to go into the matter then.
Ald. Gripper thought that the debate should be adjourned.
Mr. McCraith said he would support the view taken up by Mr. Robinson, and he thought they should come to a decision that morning, for it would be disadvantageous to the Robin Hoods to delay it. Many of them were, he trusted, very favourable to the Robin Hoods, and had a high appreciation of them, but this was purely and simply a matter for the Government to take in hand, and not the Council. The proposal seemed so plain and sound that he should strongly support the view that a settlement should be come to that morning.
Mr. Fleeman said he seconded the proposition of the Sheriff for this reason. If they were going to have a committee they would have persons before them who had taken a great and important part in the negotiations up to the present stage, and the committee would be able to report to the Council much more than they were able to know that morning, and the report would enable them to do justice to the Robin Hoods.
Ald. Woodward would strongly support the view for the formation of a committee. If they discussed the matter that morning a good many of them would be discussing it in the dark. They had no information before them as they would have if a committee were appointed to report to the Council.
A vote was then taken on the question of the adjournment of the Hall. Ald. Sands's motion to that effect was lost, however, only 14 voting in its favour.

The Sheriff said he should be quite willing to withdraw his proposition if the Mayor took the course of proposing the committee first and the names afterwards.
The Mayor: What is your proposition?
The Sheriff: My resolution is "That a committee be formed to take into consideration the petition which has been presented to us from the Robin Hood Rifles."
Mr. Davis seconded.
Mr. Fleeman said that he had already seconded that motion.
Mr. Bentley: I take it the first question is that a committee be formed.
The Mayor: That is so. That question is now quite open for discussion.
Mr. E. L. Manning would like to ask whether, if a special committee were appointed, it would have power to approach the War Office, to see if that department would contribute any amount, and to approach the Municipal Corporations Association, and the various rifle corps in the country. It seemed to him that this was a matter which ought to be taken up by the Government, and pressure ought to be brought to bear by the municipalities to force the Government to take it up. It should not be thrown upon the local rates, however much they might sympathise with the Robin Hoods in their endeavours to get a range. For that reason the committee should be empowered to approach the War Office, other municipalities, and the various volunteer regiments.
Mr. McCraith was at a loss to know what they were going to form a committee for. Some members of the Hall had said that unless a committee was formed, and the matter was thoroughly gone into, they would not know what they were doing. It was the simplest matter possible. The Robin Hoods had been deprived of their range and wanted a new one, they had a place in view, and it would cost them £16,000 to obtain it. It was only a question whether that money should be paid by the municipality of Nottingham or by the Government. As the Robin Hoods formed a part of the defensive forces of the country it was right that this money should be paid in the usual expenditure for these forces. Their simple course would be to form a deputation consisting of the Mayor, the Sheriff, the Town Clerk, accompanied by the members for the borough, to lay the matter before the War Office, and express to them the decided opinion of that Council. If this matter were raised in Parliament, the good sense of the House of Commons would at once say that the country must find this money, and not any special municipality. He suggested that they should take the course he had hinted at, and he felt convinced they would set themselves right with the Robin Hoods, and with the town, and would put the onus upon the right persons. It would be a most monstrous thing on the part of the Government to throw an expense like that on any individual district. (hear, hear.) It belonged entirely to the country at large, and the cost ought to be borne by the imperial rates, and not by local taxation. He would propose that the deputation he had named should be requested to lay the matter before the proper authorities in such a manner as they thought best.
Mr. Truman seconded the proposition.
Mr. McCraith's amendment was carried unanimously.