A moderately-sized audience heard the 54th Plunket Medal oratory contest held in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on July 2. The quality of the oratory was uniformly high. For the sixth time the contest was won by a woman. Merle Boyle, whose oration was entitled "Within the Maddening Crowd," was placed first. The judges ware Mrs Z. R. M. Graham, Professor Scott and the Mayor, Mr Kitts.

Speaking for the Judges, Mrs Graham, a former winner of the Plunket medal, said that Miss Boyle had a beautiful voice and an effective, dramatic oratorical style which surmounted the disadvantages of voice and presence usually associated with women orators. She had deep sincerity and her topic, the futility of material values as opposed to spiritual values, was of vital importance to mankind.

Merle Boyle