Pity the Poor Public.

A recommendation received from the [unclear: Bledisloe] Medal Oratory Contest Committee suggested limiting the subjects for the contest.

The subject under the present rules must be either "a great man or woman Maori or Pakeha, In New Zealand History." or "a great event in New Zealand History." The question had arisen: "Is the advent of the Labour Government a great event In New Zealand history?" No one could deny that it was, but the committee did not think the contest should be made an occasion for political propaganda. They recommended that the event chosen should be at least ten years old.

Mr. R. W. Edgley said V.U.C. was Strongly against the proposal.

"V.U.C. can see no good reason why political topics and Important Issues should not be discussed," said Mr. Aimers. "Most of the greatest orations In history were concerned with vital current problems."

The C.U.C. delegates said their College was In favour of [unclear: the] recommendation. It was felt that, while debates gave both sides of a question, orations gave only one and therefore the choice of subject for orations should be restricted, had frequently been found that the views of one person were taken by the public and press as those of the College he represented.

The O.U. delegate said he thought Otago would oppose limitation. In his own opinion, the arguments for limitations were overstressed, and could be logically applied to too many oilier things, besides orations.

The chairman pointed out that a speech on "a great man or woman" was equally liable to become propaganda. One of the speakers from O.U. who did not go to the contest bad chosen Mr. Robert Sample as his subject.

On Mr. Aimers' suggestion, it was decided to arrange an Interchange of views between the University societies concerned, the question to be brought up again at the annual meeting.