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The Spike or Victoria University College Review September 1925

Debating Society Urquent Rustice Sane

page 54

Debating Society Urquent Rustice Sane

"Nostrums, ten a penny!"

—John Calsworthy.

debating society

The smooth course of Second Term Debates has proceeded satisfactorily, and that stupendous Oratorial Tournament, the Plunket Medal Con-test, has come and gone. Of fireworks there has been a noticeable absence, except for one brilliant but ephemeral display by the local scandal-mongering Press, Authority at College replied to the outburst, and a period of unbroken calm ensued.

The immediate cause of this attack on the Society was the first Visit-ors' Debate of the session. The motion read "That the transport facilities of New Zealand should be wholly nationalised" Mr. R. F. Fortune, seconded by Mr. W. T. Young, moved, and Mr. J. B. Yaldwyn, seconded by Colonel T. W. McDonald, opposed. Messrs. Fortune and Young contended that the privately-owned shipping services were the curse of the country: if the Government could run trains successfully, it could also run steamers, Mr. Yaldwyn and his partner endeavoured to show that the management of a shipping service required very different tactics from the promoting of an efficient Railway Department, and, anyhow, the Railway Service was not efficient, was it? Colonel McDonald made the most of Queensland's misadventures with State-owned ships. Both the meeting, as a whole, and the members of the Society were evidently overwhelmed with Mr. Young's mass of figures and statistics; for both carried the motion. Mr. G. G. G. Watson placed as the best speakers: Messrs. R. M. Campbell, J. B. Yaldwyn, W. P. Rollings, R. F. Fortune, and F. D. O'Halloran and J. F. Platts-Mills fifth, equal.

The next meeting seemed to promise a battle of the sexes; but materialised into nothing more exciting than a first-class debate. Mr. Campbell and Miss Mary Cooley moved: "That the right of action for breach of promise to marry should be abolished." They indignantly refuted the suggestion that the motion was a frivolous one, and explained the deep and far-reaching issues actually involved, time proving all too short for this purpose. Mr. S. E. Baume, supported by Miss Dorothy Hadfield, defended the present system, Mr. Baume making the candid admission that he looked forward to possessing a home of his very own, but would not on any account desert the woman of his choice at the church door: at any rate, if he did, he would deserve to have to pay for it. Miss Hadfield pleaded for fairness, and emphasised the fact that every girl looks forward to the day of her marriage, and on it stakes her whole existence. The right of action was abolished twice, by meeting and Society, and Mr. D. S. Smith placed the following five: Mr. R. M. Campbell, Miss Mary Cooley, Mr. Baume, Mr. James and Mr. Davidson equal, and Mr. Rollings.

On July 4th a small, select audience foregathered to hear Mr. C. A. H. Treadwell deliver his presidential address. The subject was "The Advocate," and the President's humorous and helpful handling of it warranted a far larger attendance.

A week later, Messrs. G. O. Cooper and I. L. Hjorring sought to convince an audience of forty-five or so "That this House approves of the policy of the Baldwin Government in relation to Egyptian affairs." They argued that natives, and especially Egyptian natives, were tricky persons to deal with, and the only safe, practicable method was for the Government to treat them like naughty school-children. Policy approved accordingly. Messrs. W. P. Rollings and G. R. Powles protested indignantly that the Egyptian was not at all the low-down type their opponents had painted him. He was an exceedingly cleanly individual, and particularly resented page 55 his water-supply being interfered with. The motion was twice carried, and the Judge, Mr. W. R. McKenzie, placed the best five as follows:— (1) Messrs. Baume and Campbell, (3) Miss Cooley, (4) Mr. Rollings, (5) Mr. Hjorring.

The next debate was on the motion: "That the social and economic conditions of Italy have materially improved as a result of the dictator-ship of Mussolini." Messrs. H. J. V. James and R. I. M. Sutherland, in moving, claimed that Mussolini had brought order out of chaos, and had literally made things move. Especially was this so with the Italian Railways. Messrs. I. L. Hjorring and W. P. Rollings took their stand on constitutional grounds: a regime that countenanced violence and murder could not finally have any but an ill effect. Speeding up the railways was a claim commonly put forth on behalf of feeble and tyrannical Governments. The audience defeated the motion, the Society carried it, and Mr. F. J. Rolleston, B.A., LL.B., M.P., placed Messrs. S. E. Baume, R. M. Campbell, H. J, V. James, W. P. Rollings and C. G. R. James.

The most largely-attended debate of the year took place on 8th August. Mr. W. P. Rollings and Mr. W. J. McEldowney, LL.B., moved: "That as a general principle lectures at V.U.C. should cease at 5 p.m." It was claimed by them that the night student could not possibly gain a real education. The time had now come to take the bold step of changing to day lectures, and if the change were made, fewer students would be thus debarred from attending them was popularly imagined. The fault of the present system was that no encouragement was given to students to devote their whole time to study. Mr. R. M. Campbell and Mr. H. A. Parkinson, M.A., opposed the motion, and declared that night lectures were simply made the scapegoat for all the evils in our higher education. The present system was suited to the peculiar needs of New Zealand, and it was misleading to quote Oxford and Cambridge as models for us. The right of entry must be preserved for all who wished to take advantage of the benefits of a University education. These arguments apparently carried weight; for the motion was twice rejected by a substantial majority. The Hon. J. A. Hanan, M.P. and Mr. H. Poland, M.P., placed the best five as follows:— Messrs. W. P. Rollings, R. M. Campbell, A. E. Hurley, S. E. Baume and C. G. R. James.

The next debate took place on 5th September. Mr. H. R. Bannister, seconded by Mr. W. D. Lysnar, M.P., moved: "That the operation of Commercial Trusts is detrimental to the best interests of New Zealand." This was a country, they told us, that depended on its primary products, and these were being exploited by Trusts, which were operating in several industries, notably the meat trade. Messrs S. E. Baume and R. E. Pope defended Trusts, and demonstrated their wonderful efficiency and economy of working. The same amount of profit could be made with fewer employees and operating expenses. Mr. P. Eraser, M.P., placed the following:—Messrs. Campbell, Yaldwyn, Rollings, Dowsett and Davidson.

The Annual Contest for Lord Plunket's Medal took place on 19th September, when Mr. Baume carried off the honours of the evening. A full account appears in a more conspicuous place in this Journal.