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The Spike or Victoria College Review, June 1907

Debating Contest

Debating Contest.

"Speck sweetly, man, although thy looks be sour."

—Richard II

"Give every man thine ear but few thy voice."

—Hamlet.

For the second time the Joynt Debating Scroll has come to Victoria College, and she should be all the more proud of the honour because it has been won by two speakers different from those who represented her last year.

Professor Jarman opened the proceedings by firmly deprecating any pretensions to the facial beauty ascribed to him by an Otago wag, and briefly outlined the programme. The debate was upon the motion "That the growing activity of Eastern nations constitutes a serious menace to Western civilization." In the absence of the usual written notes of the Judges, we deem it proper to attempt for the information of our readers a criticism of the debate as it appeared to us.

Lomas opened for Otago in support of the motion, but did not appear to have taken full advantage of the fact his was an opening speech. His remarks did not form a connected chain of argument, but seemed to be each directed towards the motion from a different standpoint, thought each was well aimed page 21 and took due effect. His enunciation lacked that judicious placing of emphasis which makes the task of the listener an easy one.

O'Leary, who opened or Victoria College, was in his best form, and showed not only the oratorical power which obtained for him the Plunket Medal, but also an excellent reasoning faculty. He dealt with the matter from the standpoints of the military danger, the commercial competition, and the social menace. When he resumed his seat the prospects for Victoria College looked very hopeful.

Shaw, of Otago, made a favourable impression with his prepared matter, but shewed a tendency, as soon as he left the beaten track, to direct his arguments rather towards his opponents than towards the motion. His style was too heavy to be attractive to his audience.

Murphy then replied for Victoria College. He was as keen and incisive as ever, and gave an excellent display of the process of tearing his opponents' arguments to pieces. His speech was probably the most telling of the evening, and he did not materially damage his case by his candid admission he did not of Mr. Shaw's contention that "East is East, and West is West."

The same question was then debated by Canterbury and Auckland. Monro made a good speech, and we think gained a great by the moderation which he displayed, both in admitting the force of the opposite view, and in not overestimation that of his own. But unfortunately for himself he happened to make use of Kipling's already familiar aphorism, an old friend which, to Monro's apparent perplexity, was vigorously applauded.

Hampson, of Auckland, and unfortunately not well heard at the back of the hall. His speech was attractive and seemed to be methodically arranged, his division of the subject being similar to O'Leary's.

Shanahan, who seconded for Canterbury, was also not well heard. He was too slow and hesitant to attract the interest of his audience, and his difficulties with the word menace must have greatly embarrassed him.

page 22

Moore, the last speaker, had the hardest task of all. He had a tired audience, which had heard most of the possible arguments on the subject, and though he made a speech of which sound argument and clear arrangement were the leading features, he was very little appreciated.

The judges retired to consider their verdict. On their judges retired to consider their verdict. On their return it was announced that they had placed Victoria College first and Auckland University College second, but they declined to yield to the importunities of a large majority of the audience, which vehemently demanded some comment on the debate.

Various impromptu items were rendered by the audience during the retirement of the judges.