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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 25, No. 9. 1962.

Plunket Medal Oratory

Plunket Medal Oratory

There was little agreement among the audience as it awaited the judges' decision. The Concert Chamber buzzed with conflicting opinions.

At last Mrs Z. R. M. Graham stood up to deliver the adjudication.

"I am very happy to announce," she said in the sudden quiet, "that the winner of the 1962 Plunket Medal is Mr T. A. Roberts."

Mrs Graham then announced that Mr D. Bristow had been placed second, and Mr B. W. Middleton third.

The comments of the adjudicators were summarised by Mrs Graham. Mr Roberts, whose subject had been "Whose God is Their Bellies", had the power of holding the audience during a long pause, she said. Mr Bristow ("The Maori and Today") had a fine stage presence, but had weakened his delivery by adding poorly integrated material near the end. Mr Middleton's speech, though emotionally striking, was handicapped by a tense voice. Mr Middleton's subject was "Dag Hammerskoeld".

Mrs Graham spoke of her own reaction to the contest. She had been glad to find that the young people of today cared so deeply about things, she said. "Let not young souls be smothered out before they do quaint deeds . . ." she quoted from somewhere.

The judges offered advice to future contestants on their subject matter and presentation.

Speakers who stood too far forward suffered from poor lighting, commented. Mr Graham. She felt that some speakers had chosen their subjects unwisely. Would-be medallists were advised to "choose a big subject, and one that Inspires you", and to "keep beginnings and endings short".

The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. K. J. Holyoake, presented the medal to Mr Roberts after a short appreciation of the contest, which he said was of a high standard. He mentioned the close competition between the three place-getters and said he had been unable to separate them.