The Spike: or, Victoria University College Review, June 1923
Debating Society
Debating Society.
The Debating Society has entered upon what promises to be the most successful of its twenty-five years of existence. Strengthened by the return of several stalwarts of former years and by the accession to its ranks of a good number of new speakers, it has in its opening debates set a standard that augurs well for the future. Audiences have been large and enthusiastic, the subjects topical, and altogether things are booming with a vengeance. We would be ungrateful if we omitted to thank our critics amongst the mighty men of the land, who, convinced apparently that the recent military triumph of the forces of Liberty should now he crowned by the strictest regimentation of thought, have succeeded in focussing a certain degree of public attention upon our activities. This is all to the good. The Debating Society seeks to form a link between the University and the community, and to secure intelligent discussion of current problems, even though such may touch on the sacred ground of politics. It is interesting in this connection to recall that, as recently as 1913, the Hen. A. L. Herdman (then Attorney-General, and since elevated to the Supreme Court Bench) congratulated the Society on following the Right Hon. James Bryce's suggestion that the University Colleges should "take a keener interest in the larger political questions affecting the welfare of the country. "It is difficult to resist the belief that some individuals and "Leagues," in their concern for the welfare of the benighted University student of this degenerate age, would condition Bryce's excellent advice with a provision that only "correct" opinions should be expressed and only "correct" conclusions reached.
The 1922 Session was concluded on 30th September, when, on the motion of Mr. McCormick, seconded by Mr. Davidson, it was resolved: "That the intervention of the Great Powers in the internal affairs of China is to be condemned." Messrs. Yaldwyn and Syme led for the negative. The audience was not large. The movers persisted in casting uncharitable doubts on the disinterestedness of the Powers in their tender regard for the Chinaman. The opposers ingeniously contended that, for the purpose of the debate, Japan could not be regarded as a "Great Power "; even if China's welfare were not the immediate object of intervention, they held that contact with other nations made for her ultimate good. Mr. H. E. Evans placed the speakers in the following order: Yaldwyn, Campbell, Heron, McCormick, Davidson. The Union Prize for the year was won by Mr. R. M. Campbell, with Mr. J. W. G. Davidson as proxime accessit; the New Speaker's Prize was awarded to Mr. H. A. Heron.
Easter Tournament. Our congratulations to the College representatives at Dunedin in restoring the Joynt Scroll to the portals of V.U.C. The subject for debate was hardly inspiring; indeed, it passes our comprehension that such a topic could be thrust upon us in these momentous times. A preliminary debate on the chosen subject was held at the College on 23rd March, when the representatives-elect—Messrs. Campbell and Haigh—were opposed by Messrs. John O'Shea and H. H. Cornish. The meeting decided against the revolutionary change in University administration that would be involved in a grant of independent status to the present Colleges. This decision was fortunate, for we had been solemnly assured that carrying the motion would constitute a step "backward towards the tribal stage." At Dunedin, Mr. Davidson took the place of Mr. Campbell, who was unable to go South, and his success in filling the vacancy at short notice is specially commendable. Mr. Haigh we also congratulate on his place as best speaker in the contest. The method of choosing Easter representatives was reviewed at the annual meeting this year. The selection will in future be made by the Committee, taking into consideration points gained towards the Union Prize during the preceding year, and previous experience in Tournament debates will not disqualify.
The first regular debate, held on 14th April, centered around the motion "That no government is justified in committing N.Z. to take part in war until the approval of the people has been obtained by referendum." Mr. Davidson opened with a vigorous indictment of the time-honoured schemes of secret diplomacy and urged that the only hope for humanity lay in popular control of war-making, combined of necessity with effective democratic control of all foreign policy. My. Atmore opposed the motion and stressed the difficulties and dangers with which a nation would be confronted in time of peril if it were under the necessity of securing formal approval by the electorate before taking action. Messrs. Evans ana Butler seconded the mover and the opposer respectively. A phenomenal rush of speakers followed, and the hour was late before the twentieth speaker had exhausted his eloquence, and the Chairman was able to declare the motion carried. Mr. D. S. Smith placed the best speakers as follows: Butler, Davidson. Atmor, Campbell, Yaldwyn.
The next fixture was a Visitors' Debate, in which Mr. P. J. O'Regan supported Mr. Martin-Smith in urging "That the Imperial Parliament should explicitly declare that, at the request of the people of any substantial part of the British Empire, complete independence will be freely conceded." Col. McDonald seconded Mr. Free in opposing. The gymnasium hall was crowded. The opener for the affirmative remarked on the conspicuous Jack of success that had attended all efforts at Imperial Federation and gave as his judgment the view that such schemes were rendered impossible by difficulties of time and distance. Mere size of Empire was not an end in itself, and if the present or any other structure were to persist it must be based on the voluntary association of free peoples. Mr. O'Regan had no doubt that the right of secession would be acknowledged by the Imperial Parliament if it were claimed by any self-governing dominion. He believed that the colonies would inevitably develop into free nations, and this was the destiny anticipated for them by such men as Wakefield and Godley. Mr. Free had a homely parable anent the relative strength of a bundle of sticks taken jointly and taken severally. He questioned the wisdom of forsaking our present security in pursuit of any mythical freedom without the Empire. Col. MacDonald was also in his element in urging the closer knitting together of the bonds of Empire. He incidentally characterised as altogether ill—advised the undue precipitancy with which Archimedes leapt from his bath. Any step towards Empire disintegration would be fraught with consequences disastrous to ourselves no less than to the peace of the world. An animated debate ensued, the motion was carried, and the judge—Mr. T. H. Gill—awarded places to Martin-Smith, Davidson, Haigh, Free, and Baume.
The next subject was "That the Peace Treaty, being based on a false assumption of Germany's sole responsibility for the war, should be abrogated." Mr. Haigh. fortunately, arrived in time to open the proceedings with a dissertation on the antecedents of the Great War. He urged that the unfortunate misunderstanding in Europe was due to the collective sin of the Powers, and that the basis of the Treaty was a lie. Mr. Moore led for the Noes. He pointed to Germany's intense preparations as proof of her sole responsibility for the war, cited the confession of Herr Harden that the Fatherland was to blame, and upheld the right of the victorious Allies to exact reparation for the damage sustained. The mover was seconded by Mr. Campbell, while Mr. Powles supported the negative. The motion was carried, and Mr. J. H. Howell gave as his judgment of speakers: First, Davidson; second, Campbell and Yaldwyn; fourth, Hurley and Smith; followed by Rollings and Gilling.
This meeting was held after the College had gone into recess, but was entirely successful both from the point of view of number of speakers and from the size of the audience—so successful, in fact, as to suggest that debates could well be held throughout the year without interruption by the short vacations.
Education was the topic under discussion on the 9th June. Mr. Simpson, seconded by Mr. Yaldwyn, moved: "That all children in New Zealand should be required to receive their primary education in State secular schools." Messrs. Cullinane and Baume led for the negative. The movers urged that education was a function of society as a whole and not of any section or group within society. The segregation of children in sectarian schools made for bigotry and intolerance in after life. The danger of undue political interference with education could, they contended, be met by conferring upon the teaching body a real measure of control in academic matters. Their opponents admitted that the State should require all children to be properly educated, but denied that it had any function actually to give instruction to every child. They saw in the proposed abolition of private schools an interference with liberty that might with disastrous results be emulated in other spheres. Fourteen speakers in all, with scarcely one exception, found themselves opposed to the motion. One more or less judicious critic discovered in the motion a sinister plot to increase the stipends of the State pedagogues, most of whom, anyhow, "are only kids" who, having no character themselves, can hardly be expected to impart that commodity to their pupils. Finally, the motion was rejected by three votes, and the judge Professor von Zedlitz—placed speakers thus: Baume, Yaldwyn, Campbell, Heron and Burton.
On the 21st June, Professor Florance, in his Presidential address, spoke on "Some Aspects of University Education in China." A most instructive address was punctuated with anecdotes and lantern slides obtained during the Professor's sojourn in the Orient. He gave us some idea of the vastness of the problems confronting China's millions, and showed the efforts that are being made to cope with these. He explained, too, the broad features of Chinese writing, and indicated the wealth of significance that attaches to their hieroglyphics. A very hearty vote of thanks was accorded to our President and to Miss Marwick for her assistance with the slides.
The Society has affiliated with the Parliamentary Debating Union, a body which has recently revived, after some years' hibernation; and we shall be represented in the inter-club debates in competition for the Union Shield.