Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Spike: or, Victoria University College Review, June 1919

The Debate

The Debate

This year the subject for debate was: "That the League of Nations is Necessary to Promote the Moral and Economic Welfare of Mankind." The League of Nations is certainly the first question of the day, and the selection of the judges was so far happy. But most people regarded the task of the opposers as one of great difficulty. The result of the debate might be taken as an indication that the popular cause is not the easiest to champion in a popular assembly. It is hard to argue the popular case without page 34 falling back on the platitudes of the market place. An impudent assault on the received opinion sometimes commands admiration where a weak defence is a. weariness to the flesh. The movers of the motion is both cases did not make the most of their opportunities; but for the most part took up a defensive attitude. What could be heard of the case for Victoria from the back of Allen Hall had a decidedly aggressive ring. Evans and Leicester did not doubt, did not even "suspect" or "apprehend," they were certain—and would have their audience know—that the thing was a fraud. How far the win for Victoria is to be regarded as significant is not to be known—probably it will not get to the ears of President Wilson.

The debate was held in the Allen Hall. The seating accommodation was not great, and the hall soon filled. One noticeable feature was the small attendance of Wikitorians; even Auckland outnumbered us. From the chair Rev. A. Cameron sent out frequent appeals for order and quiet. For Auckland Bellhouse and Garland "talked up" the League against the ridicule of Kilroy and Morell of the Presbyterian Town, and shouts of "We want Gin, Gin, Gin—Ginger than that—Gin—Evans" from the wearers of the green and gold.

Evans and Leicester ascended the rostrum in company with Canterbury, Dickerson and Paterson. During the first four harangues the audience was fairly tolerant, and some notably witty interjections were heard; but throughout the second debate there was continuous uproar.

Of the Auckland pair Bellhouse declaimed and Garland pleaded; Bellhouse's hand-play was very artificial, while Garland's (earful peroration did his chances no good. According to the "Daily Times" of Otago, "Mr. Garland launched a severe indictment against past diplomatic systems, and expressed the most feeble belief in the will of the national leaders to secure equity for small nations without some coersive power"—whatever the "Times" or Mr. Garland may have meant by that. Kilroy attempted sarcasm, and made some flippant remarks on the attitude of Woodrow Wilson. The Senate had by a big majority refused to approve his scheme—which provoked an interjection: "That must have been a 'University Senate!" Bellhouse was against Kings, trusted the people. Morell also spoke. By this time the audience began to take a hand: the next four speakers did not have easy going. Paterson of Canterbury, began by "going for" the interrupters. His animated gestures caused considerable amusement. Evans sailed away regardless of uproar, and with sublime indifference developed his firstly, secondly and thirdly. He did not lark words. To the Dunedin scribe he "gave the impression of having had previous experience of the public platform"; and "his points were well marshalled, and he developed his theme convincingly." Like all the others, he left the interjections alone. He favoured his hearers with approved Jingo—Preserve-the-Empire stuff—"the binding ties of nationality were essential to solidity": then there was the Yellow Peril, and the Hated Hun, cheap labour, the colour line, and above all, the inestimable blessings of a Protection Tariff must be secured. Gin was quite at home. Leicester had his usual fluency. The newspaper man admired his "clear flow of language and the excellence of his argument."

On the whole there was no doubt as to the ability of the debaters, and Judge McGregor stepped up straightway with the verdict. Victoria had the Scroll for the ninth time! The page 35 Wikitorians were for the while delirious. The men set off up the aisle singing "We are the Club. " The Cantabrians thought they were after the Easter Egg, and in a body mounted the stage. The Victorians accepted the challenge, and a strenuous rough-and- tumble followed. The Egg was broken in pieces, and the day was over.

Altogether, the debate was not specially brilliant. All the speakers came with prepared speeches; debating there was none. Without the interruptions the debate might have been a very tame affair.

The Judges were Rev. W. Saunders, Rev. Graham Balfour, and Mr. W. C. McGregor, E.G.