The First Debate.

The visitors made their debut to a Wellington audience in the main Town Hall on the evening of Thursday, 15th April, when the subject read: "That this House views with concern the present tendencies towards disruption of the Empire." It is perhaps comforting to reflect that the Debating Society was not castigated by those pestiferous Leagues, journalists, politicians, etc., who a year or two ago would have met the mere announce page 9 ment of this subject with frenzied demands for the interference of authority in censoring Victoria College Debating activities; and consequently, there was no need to explain that this particular subject was suggested by the visitors.

Two of the visiting men, Messrs. Molson and McDonald, were joined by Mr. A. E. Hurley (V.U.C.) in defence of the Burr-itish Empire, and the negative was taken by Mr. Reed (London) Mr. J. W. G. Davidson, and P. Martin-Smith. The affirmative speakers were shown, by ballot taken at the close of the proceedings, to have convinced 282 members of the audience that disruption was to be viewed with concern. This number was less by thirteen than the number of votes for the negative.