Prize

To Mr Trehey must go the prize for 11 minutes of entertaining improvisation. It wasn't oratory, it was barely a speech, but it was extremely amusing.

One cannot expect perfect memorisation of every speech, and it was obvious after the first minute that Mr Trehey had forgotten all that he had prepared. It would be unfair to judge him on any of what followed, but from one who is a philistine at heart, thank you Mr Trehey.

To Mr Larsen went the position of last speaker for the evening, and in his competent way he concluded proceedings very ably, with a plea for "Individualism." "We are second hand," he said, "Our ideas, our books and entertainment, our conversation are all something that has been given to us, not something we have made for ourselves."

This was calm, with a touch of light sarcasm, and certainly it was soundly based. Again the plea for something better was preceded by a destructive criticism of the audience, as New Zealanders, but Mr Larsen has not yet got Mr Waddle's powers to override this sort of thing.

And it was probably this, which cost Mr Larsen some mention in the places, for the theme of the necessity for self decision was a very sound one.

The judges, Mrs M. McKenzie, Dr. G. A. Currie and Mr J. C. White went into the judging of the contest very thoroughly, and the Debating Society should be grateful for the interest which they took in the first contest under the amended rules.

The Prime Minister, presenting the medal said he had enjoyed the contest and took the opportunity of making his peace with Mr Trehey.

The chairman was last year's winner, Mr J. M. Whitta.