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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 11, No. 1. March 17th. 1948

Debating and Divers Destructive Discourses

page 5

Debating and Divers Destructive Discourses

The 49th Annual General Meeting of the Debating Society was held in the Gym, on Wednesday night, 3rd March, and the following Committee was elected for the year:—
  • Patron: Rt. Hon. the Chief Justice.
  • President: Kevin O'Brien.
  • Vice-President: Harold Dowrick.
  • Secretary: Jean Melling.
  • Treasurer: Nell Casey.
  • Committee: Lorainne Leicester, Alison Pearce, Oscar Melling, Jim Milburn.

Tui Keiha was elected as the Society's representative on the Building Fund Committee.

Impromptu Speeches: The Effects of Strong Drink. Mr. O'Mahon thought that the results were to be seen everywhere around us. He seemed to have an exaggerated opinion of the capacity of students in this connection.

That Jazz and Swing are the Natural Consequences of Musical Evolution: Mr. Hogg asserts that jazz fiends have no other means of outlet (cries of "frustration" and "shame"). They should be brought together—they should be confined (loud laughter). He came to the rather startling conclusion that T. S. Eliot is on a par with Harry James.

The Necessity of Unions for Clergymen. Mr. Battersby told us of his great sorrowing for the clergy. It would be nice for the clergymen to have a union then "they could all be boys together."

The New Look. Conrad Bollinger was a little flummoxed by this subject. He said, however, "I have an old aunt" (reference to fog from the audience). "She had an ostrich feather in a preserving jar. He thinks that the "New Look" is probably very handy for "hiding things." The audience was left to work out the connection.

How to Choose a Wife. Mr. Pottinger had three prerequisites for a wife. Despite the fact that he avowedly did not have one he displayed a remarkable insight. His main point was that his wife would have to be faithful. He felt that "it would not be very pleasant to come home from work and find . . ." Words failed him at this point.

The Oompah Bird's Philosophy is Correct. Miss Ilott enthusiastically acclaimed the Oompah Bird's philosophy and, while the audience rocked and wept, gave a thoughtful exposition of what she considered to be the main points of such a philosophy. We were asked "how many of you have ever sat on a fence and done that sort of thing?" The audience, stunned, considered the possibility of such a procedure. "Of course," we were informed, "it's the battle cry." We agree there. It was also suggested that there was some connection between Oompah and the New Look.

The Effect of Weir House on its Inmates. Mr. Twomey as an exinmate was able to assure us that, in the words of the best warden that Weir ever had, one Te Punga, the only things not allowed in Weir were drink and unlicensed women—he asserted that any time we liked to go over there we could see this for ourselves. Another sensible rule is that no visitors are allowed until after 11 pin. He decided that residing at Weir helped to fit one for the community and instanced the tear gas attack which even the then warden admitted was very well done—of course no one had ever been able to find out who had carried this plan through.

How to Choose a Husband was tackled by Alison Pearce whose bete noir is apparently hair oil. From here the dissertation wandered to bottles for hair oil, bottles for milk and just bottles—thousands of them. She was also in favour of "carrying on." This seemed to be inextricably mixed up with milk bottles which in turn seemed to have something to do with "building bonny babies"—rather confusing we found it.

That the Human Race is Weight for Age. Mr. Cook was more than a little confused but his brightest remark was, "I don't know about any other members in the hall tonight having any hopes of producing anything in their middle age." He was puzzled by the effect of this remark on the audience but carried on valiantly.

A Roadster Moon. Mr. Barclay let slip the remark, "I've seen the moon in some funny circumstances." From here the speech developed into a confidential conversation on the merits and demerits of various types of car. The audience was most helpful and I am left with the impression that the final verdict had something to do with a car with collapsible front seats which Mr. Barclay seemed to think "would make a comfortable job of it."

The Effect of Atomic Energy on pure Gothic or N.Z. Architecture was dealt with by Mr. Milburn. "Our house is not Gothic—as a matter of fact it's not ours." Jim seemed to think that p'raps the Goths had something and suggested that there should be a Gothic annex to the UNO Atomic Energy Commission. No one seemed to care much one way or the other so it was left at that.

Women should say No was delivered a resounding blow by Miss Marshall who was not at all sure about this.