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The Spike or Victoria University College Review 1934

Debating Society

page 134

Debating Society

The year started with an outburst on the subject of freedom of speech. At the Annual General Meeting a motion was passed expressing agreement with the action of the Court of Convocation at its recent meeting; this action of the graduates was deeply appreciated by the Society. A letter, approved by the meeting, was sent to the Professorial Board in an attempt to bring about a change in the Board's attitude, but so far there has been no change in the position and the lively controversy that monopolised the correspondence columns in the daily papers for some weeks has died out. It is our hope that the ban will reach a similar oblivion.

The subjects debated at ordinary meetings have been very varied and the syllabus as a whole well balanced, though it was unfortunate that all the political topics were placed near the beginning, leaving the more philosophical and cultural subjects to the end of the year.

The first three debates were all on topical problems: the desirability of Dictatorship, Japanese expansion and the League of Nations, and Cancellation of inter-allied war debts. As well as the four principal speakers, there were 13 speakers from the floor at each of these debates and more would have spoken had time allowed; the evenness of the speaking may be judged from the fact that only two people secured placings in two of these debates and no one was placed in all three. The audience averaged about 90 for these debates, although two of them were during the May vacation.

The fourth debate was a humorous one—"That the discovery of America is to be deplored"—and the humour was maintained throughout. The audience of 140 was the largest during the year, except for the Annual General Meeting. Following this we tried the innovation of debating the Joynt Scroll subject as an aid to our Joynt Scroll team and we believe it was a big help to them in preparing their case.

The next debate included one humorous one—"That the good old days were bad"—and three subjects of general interests: Doctors in the employment of local authorities, utilisation of leisure and the cultural aspect of university training. The attendances and number of speakers have fallen off considerably in these later debates. This is a common end of the year phenomenon, but it has been more marked than ever this year and is being experienced in every activity at Victoria College. Swotting seems to have a harder hold on us. Nevertheless, the debating was of a very even standard as witnessed by the result of the Union Prize; Miss M. Shortall winning with a total of 20½ points from Messrs. McElwain and Sceats with 15 points and 14½ points respectively. Miss Shortall's performance is particularly meritorious as she did not commence debating until late in the session and this was her first year as a debater at V.U.C. In view of these circumstances Miss Shortall's achievement in being the second woman to win the Union Prize (Miss C. S. Forde being the first in 1932) is an outstanding one. We would like to congratulate her very heartily.

Due to the work and initiative of A. F. T. Chorlton, a separate committee was elected to arrange New Speakers' Debates; the result has been startlingly good as far as speakers are concerned, though audiences have not been large. Perhaps the most promising new speakers this year are Miss Shortall, I. D. Campbell, McElwain, Meek, Osborne and R. S. V. Simpson. Of these Miss Shortall (winner), Campbell and McElwain are all high up in the ladder of Union Prize placings. Miss M. Shortall also won the New Speakers' Prize with 34 points with Messrs. McElwain and Osborne in second and third place.

Messrs. R. J. Larkin and K. Tahiwi were our Joynt Scroll representatives and were placed second to Otago University in a debate so close that an Umpire had to be called in to help the judges. We congratulate Otago on their second successive victory.

The present year has seen two very interesting Debating tours. A. F. T. Chorlton accompanied Ian Milner, of Canterbury College, on a tour of American Universities, of which at the moment we have not many details, and we held two debates against a visiting American debater, Mr. Robert K. Burns. Mr. Burns' colleague, Mr. Lyle M. Spencer, was unfortunately detained in hospital in Sydney but we are glad to hear he is now recovered.

The Plunket Medal contest was very even and interesting, with R. J. Larkin achieving a well merited victory with Robert E. Lee as his subject.

The Visitors' Debate was on the subject: "That the British Empire can best promote world peace by strengthening her defences.' This was moved by Mr. Martin M. F. Luckie, seconded by L. R. Sceats, and opposed by Mr. Peter Fraser, M.P., seconded by A. Katz. The debate was extremely animated and interesting and our thanks are due to these gentlemen for the time they devoted to this debate.

The Society wishes to thank the judges who have sacrificed evenings to help it with advice and criticism.