Logically I cannot, nor would I. disagree with the decision on the ground that it went to a speaker who had not learned his speech off by heart: on this point I am one with Mr. Whitta, whose letter will be found on a later page of this edition, but in all humility I would maintain that a fairly high degree, of fluency is required, and that a speaker should not attempt an extempore speech until he in sufficiently experienced to know that his flow of words will not be interrupted while he, pauses, either to consider his notes, or to calculate with a fair amount of certainty what should come next. Any break of this nature serves to remind the audience that the speaker is not really immersed in his subject, and that therefore he does not possess the conviction that he would instil in his audience.

It is true that there was no really outstanding oratory presented in the contest, but that cannot Justify the judges for going to the opposite extreme.

Unfortunately, all that is said now cannot recall the mistake, but it can serve an a warning to the future, so that the mistake will never occur again. I understand that steps are to be taken at a general meeting of the Debating Society to be held this Friday night to provide safeguards for future contests.