Free Discussions

The Free Discussions Club also engaged in the same free expression of opinion. It will be remembered that in the period under review so soon after World War I, there was a Middle East crisis precipitated by a flamboyant cable despatched to the Dominion by Lloyd-George, resulting in the creation of a certain amount of war hysteria. A meeting of the Free Discussions Club called to discuss the situation was addressed by Walter Nash and the late Rev. Dr. Gibb. Both speakers opposed the creation of a war fever and most students who had long been associated with both the Debating Society and the Free Discussions Club similarly opposed the current developments which were obviously calculated to make for another world war. However, as was to be expected when war hysteria is present, a number of students, most of whom had rarely interested themselves in the activities of either club, organised an opposition and, after the chairman had adjourned the discussion to the Gmnaysium when the hour for closing the University buildings had arrived, the opposition developed into something in the nature of what modern politicians would describe as a "rabble rousing" incident involving the use of prepared stink bombs and other methods not associated with the calm objective discussion of a serious situation. Indeed, rumour had it that plans were afoot to capture and duck the principal speakers in the nearest duck pond. They were exciting days.

And so it will be seen that the theme of my recollections is that students of those days who gathered together in such student dubs as those I have mentioned were active in defending and enlarging that most important of the four freedoms— the right to freedom of speech. There were other incidents which serve to illustrate this contention but space does not permit me to recount there.

Victoria College has acquired a new status. Long may its students in their various clubs continue to maintain the tradition of freedom of speech. What matters it if the opinions they express run counter to what has been described as the common sense of popular opinion. The daring speculation of today is the common sense of tomorrow.

—J. W. G. Davidson.