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The Spike: or, Victoria College Review, October 1910

Debating Society

Debating Society.

For some reason the attendances at meetings of the Society during the past term have been comparatively poor. Many causes have been suggested; but perhaps the one nearest the mark is that the speeches given have not been up to the usual standard. The more experienced members of the Society have spoken but little this term, the platform being occupied by comparatively unpracticed speakers, who, of course not provide a very grate "draw" to an audience. In this fact, however, we see the surest promise of a very successful session next year, especially when one considers the remarkable improvement which has taken place in individual new speakers. Owing to the poor attendance at the regular debates, it was found advisable to discontinue the debates for new speaker, which proved so successful last term, but many who made their first attempt there have spoken with success in the main society.

In the District Tournament we won a debate against Trinity Methodist Society by a substantial margin, and in the second round we won from St. John's by default. Our next opponents will be the Catholic Club. R. S. Watson, a first-year speaker, has been chosen to represent the Society in the oratorical contest, and judging by the good showing which he made at the Plunket Medal Competition, the honour of the Society is safe in his hands. M. H. Oram won the Union prize with an average of 2.5 points for seven debates, very closely followed by G. W. Morice, with an average of 2.4 points for six debates.

The New Speakers' Prize was awarded to R. S. Watson.

page 44

On 2nd July the society discussed the motion "That the Lords were justified in rejecting the Budget." H. E. Evans supported the motion in a well-arranged and logical speech, though, unfortunately, he did not have time to finish it. He certainly made the best of his strong position from the legal point of view. D. Smith, who opposed the motion, made the speech of the evening, and dealt with the subject in a manner which indicated that he knew and cared more about his side of the matter than could possibly be gathered by mere reading for the occasion. The debate, following on the Capping Carnival, was, on the whole, lifeless, a fact which was commented on by Mr. A. R. Atkinson, the judge, who placed the speakers in the following order:—Messrs. Smith, Oram, Butcher, Taylor, and E. Rutherford.

The presidential address was delivered on 6th August, by Professor Laby, who discoursed for all too brief a time upon the vast changes which the progress of science had made in the factors which make for national greatness. After the address followed a debate on the motion "that Novel Reading is beneficial to the reader." The debate was led by lady members, and the result was such as to make mere men wonder why there was any need for a separate society for women students, more especially seeing that every one of the ladies gained places. Professor Laby placed the speakers in the following order :— Miss M. Nicholls, 1; Messrs. M. H. Oram and G. W. Morice (equal), 2; and Misses Currie, Coad and F. Neilson (equal), 3.

On 13th August J. Hogben, seconded by T. N. Holmden, moved to the Human Race. " They were opposed by C. H. Taylor, seconded by H. W. Monaghan. In the course of his speech, one speaker apologized for not being an orator of the calibre of Pitt—a somewhat unnecessary course. The judge, Mr. Laurenson, M.P., in the course of a few interesting remarks, placed the speakers in the following order:—Messrs. R. Kennedy, C. H. Taylor, H. W. Monaghan, R. Watson, and P. Broad. The attendance at this debate was very adversely affected y other College functions which were progressing at the same time.

The next meeting, held on 27th August, discussed the motion, "that the progress and prosperity of the Aus page 45 tralasian colonies would have been retarded by the adoption of the leasehold system." All the speakers except C. H. Taylor seemed to forget that the motion was circumscribed to Australasia, and discussed the abstract advantages and defects of the leasehold and freehold. Mr. G. M. Thompson, M.P., placed the speakers in the following order:—Messrs. L. P. Leary, C. H. Taylor, E. Inder, and E. E. Ruthefurd and T. N Holmden (equal).

On 17th September R. S. Watson, seconded by M. H Oram, moved, "That it is advisable, in the best interests of the British Empire, that United Kingdom should adopt a system of preferential trade with her colonies." The movers mistook the object of the motion and laid too great stress on Protection, and, even then did not make so much of their case as could easily have been made. One expects from a College platform something sunder in the way of argument than mere platitudes about the Empire and the glory thereof. The opposition, supported by A. J. Luke, seconded by F. Hall—Jones, put up a far better case, quit apart from the real merits of the question. Mr. J. A. Hannan, M. P. gave a short dissertation on public speaking, and made the following award:—Messrs. A. J.. Luke, W. j. McEldowney, A. Fair, R. S. Watson, and M. H. Oram.

The last debate of the season which was also one of the most successful, was held on 24th September, the motion being, "That the standard of the Press is the product of the wishes and the culture of its readers," moved by A. E. Caddick, seconded by G. W. Morice, and opposed by F. Hall-Jones, seconded by T. N. Holmden. Mr. A. Malcolm, M. P., placed the speakers in the following order:—Messrs. W. J. McEldowney, M. H. Oram, A. E. Caddick, A. Fair, and P. B. Broad.