Test Match

The subject of the international debate was "That We Would Marry for Love." This was obviously a subject that the audience could get excited about but the chairman, in his opening remarks, requested that the debate should not become a shambles.

Mr. Thomas, opening the affirmative case, explained that the subject was Australian lingo for the statement that if one was contemplating marriage then it should be for love. He went on to define all the terms with reference to the big Oxford Dictionary. He was careful to explain that although his third speaker, Mr. Whitta was already married, the "we" in the subject did not necessarily apply to Miss O'Regan and himself, but rather to any who were contemplating marriage. He explained that Miss O'Regan would deal with the subject from the woman's point of view and wondered as to which member of the all-male Australian side would attempt to answer her arguments. His remaining time was spent in discussing marriage for love of physical companionship and love of children.

For the Australians, Mr. Pemperton claimed that to "a plain blunt man' such as himself the subject mean marriage because of love and not, as the affirmative would have it, marriage to attain love. He told us the story of John and Mary (or Judy) who "sometimes stay up late in the less sanitary parts of the city." After about a year Mary manages to get John to marry her but the romantic bubble bursts the morning after the wedding. Mr. Peraberton contended that some months after marriage, a couple try to get under each other's skin.

Miss O'Regan ("unlike Mr. Pemberton I am not a plain blunt man") dealt with love of spiritual companionship, love of security and love of country. In each case she gave both interpretations of the subject—love as a reason for marriage and marriage to obtain love.

The second speaker for the negative was Mr. Solomon. He agreed that Miss O'Regan was not a plain blunt man; this was "obvious like the rest of her speech." He claimed that getting married was like going to a restaurant with a friend and each ordering a different meal. When the meals arrive you wish you had ordered the same as your friend. According to Mr. Solomon, the man who retains his love is the man who remains single for love. This is the man who never reaches the state of torpor which is married life.

"There is no love without sacrifice," Mr. Whitta informed us. His main topics were marriage for love of wealth, love of prestige and love of position. There are many who would marry Marilyn Munro for love of the prestige of her 39-inch bust in his opinion.

The arguments of the affirmative were only motives and not loves according to the third Australian, Mr. Gleeson. He also gave us a delightful account of how Mr. Whitta would propose to Miss O'Regan after the debate.

Both Mr. Pemberton and Mr. Thomas summed up effectively. It was then over to the judges, Sir George Malla by, Mr. Justice North and Mr. J. Patterson. They conferred briefly and Sir George announced the unanimous verdict, a win for the Australians.