New Speakers' Debate

A meeting of the Debating Club was held in Room A2 on Wednesday night last. Apart from the speakers, the crowd consisted of two gentlemen and a "Smad" reporter. (All right, I meant it like that.) The motion—that "the farmer has been for too long the backbone of the country," was able defended by two stalwart Irish m en, Messrs. McGlynn and Macas kill, and opposed by Misses Dickens and Bullen. Of course, ladies won, for are not Irishmen note for their manners? Mr. T. p. McCarthy judged, and the chair was taken by the magnificently massive Master Malcolm Mason (Sorry, Malcolm, but I couldn't resist that alliteration.)

Mr. McGlynn started the ball rolling with a magnificent burst of oratory on the thinking aparatos of politicians. I see in my notes the statement, "secondary industries should be allowed to have the financial control of the country." I can't make it out; can you? The first six correct solutions... but hush, I dither.

To continue. Miss Bullen gave a lengthy and—I thought—very boring lecture on financial statistics.

Mr. Macaskill in the course of his speech managed with considerable ingenuity to work in Professor Murphy's old gag about the wish bone and the jawbone and all the other little bones. i'm afraid it's too old even to put in "Smad." But the Editor will be delighted to tell you.

Miss Dickens gave a charming little speech on rural amentities and friendships. Truly delightful, though entirely irrelevant.

Mr. Perry in what I considered to be the most convincing speech of the night gave his support to the ladies. From the floor. Mr. Mcculloch spoke well and Mr. Desborough managed to work in some blatant advertising for ... No, I refuse to advertise it any more.

Mr. McCarthy politely congratulated the speakers on the high quality of their speeches. He placed Macaskill first, Perry second and Miss Dickens third.

I thought rather a poor debate.