Necessity

Last and most effective speaker for the negative was Whitta, who questioned the use of the word "approve," as people may practise birth control not because they approve it at all, but through necessity.

Shaw still thought that there were two ways of looking at the question, and Polson polished off the negative with a brilliant theological interpretation of the Old Testament crime of Onan.

The standard of speaking was high, and the fudge placed Polson, Robertson and Whitta best speakers, in that order. The motion was carried by a large majority.