Gov-Gen Dispute

To return to the matter the conscience of the [unclear: socie] and the great dispute of 1922 23-24 centring around [unclear: th] patronage of the society [unclear: b] his Excellency the [unclear: Governor] General, whose identity I [unclear: d] not care to disclose.

In 1922, the secretary of [unclear: th] Debating Society wrote: [unclear: "I] has been a somewhat [unclear: eventf] year. It is at present [unclear: unce] tain whether the secretary [unclear: w] have to proceed to [unclear: Downi] Street, which has, no [unclear: dou] ere this, learnt of the [unclear: acti]ities of the society, and [unclear: gi] assurances that discussion the great problems of the [unclear: da] does not constitute [unclear: disloyalt]

"One of the early [unclear: brickba] bestowed on the society" [unclear: cor] tinues the report, "relates the patronship. At the [unclear: la] annual general meeting [unclear: th] Governor-General was [unclear: r] elected patron, and his [unclear: acce]tance of the position [unclear: w] sought. In reply came a [unclear: r]quest for a list of this year subjects for debate. This [unclear: w] complied with. Finally a [unclear: com]munication was received [unclear: sta] ing that his Excellency [unclear: 'do] not feel he can accept [unclear: th] position as the [unclear: subjec] chosen for debate [unclear: inclu] some with which he does [unclear: n] think he can properly [unclear: assoc] ate himself . . . Until [unclear: su] time as the society decides [unclear: t] omit such subjects from [unclear: f] programme, he must regret fully decline to accept [unclear: th] office of patron."

"With all due deference Excellency," commented secretary, "it is submitted the position taken up by is untenable. To decide question on the basis of [unclear: ther] or not members will [unclear: uss] academic or political [unclear: jects] is surely to lose sight [unclear: he] true nature of a Deng Society. The very [unclear: esce] of a debate is the idea there are two sides to [unclear: cy] question. And to say students should seek entenment only on subjects [unclear: er] than politics, appears aordinary.

Are we to discuss the great burning subjects of the such as 'That the study poetry is of greater intel[unclear: ual] value than the study history'?"

[unclear: his] was the kind of thing, the secretary, which in past had attracted "vast [unclear: lences] of 5 or 6."

[unclear: e] then went on to impute responsibility for his Exency's action to a group of [unclear: ticians] chiefly the then [unclear: ister] of Education, Mr. [unclear: r], who was having Victoria [unclear: lege] investigated and was [unclear: ilring] renewed oaths of [unclear: ilty] from teachers.