Free Discussions Club

The Club has this year enjoyed a sensational if somewhat chequered career. Following the Annual General Meeting early in the Session a very successful meeting was held in May, the subject for discussion, the New Zealand Legion, being introduced by Mr. Evan Parry, whose able and concise statement of the Legion's aims and activities was followed by a lively and at times even stormy discussion. Next came in quick succession addresses from Mr. E. F. Hubberd on "Science—the Doom of Society" and Mr. M. Riske on "The State in Reality." About this rime Truth's vociferous indictment of the Universities of this country appeared and the Club took the initiative in giving students an opportunity to express their views; it was unanimously decided at a well attended and representative meeting that the article contained so many exaggerations and untruths as to deserve no further attention. Meanwhile events were moving rapidly to-wards a dramatic crisis in the Club's activities. The committee had been publishing an outspokenly radical little paper known as Student. After two numbers had appeared the Executive banned the paper, and later disaffiliated the Club on the appearance of a third number. The Executive, however, not wishing the Club to die out, called another General Meeting and a new constitution was adopted and committee elected. This committee, though handicapped by its late start in the Session, immediately set to work. Its activities opened with a lecture on Marxism by Mr. C. G. Watson, who proved himself an able advocate of this cause. This was followed by an address from the Rev. W. Bullock, who delivered a crushing condemnation of the rival codes of Communism and Nationalism, offering Christianity as an alternative to these forces of repression. In the 3rd term Mr. H. G. Miller will be the principal speaker. So far, at every meeting a vigorous discussion has resulted. Thus it can without doubt be said that the Free Discussions Club of 1933 has worthily lived up to its objective of stimulating in the University a keen interest in, and free criticism of, all matters of vital importance to students and the community as a whole; indeed, so successful has it been this year that its influence has spread, for better or for worse, far beyond the precincts of the College.