page 63

Debating Club

The 29th Annual General Meeting of the Society commenced its activities for 1928. Though the attendance was meagre, full and prolonged discussion was by no means lacking. The annual report was taken as read, but unfortunately similar treatment could not be meted out to the balance-sheet, which underwent strong cross-examination before being passed. Mr. W. J. Heyting, having expressed considerable doubt as to the efficiency of the committee's advertising campaign for the Plunket Medal Contest, the question was held over pending his researches into the accounts of the Society. A favourable interlude thus presenting itself, the meeting elected the following officers:—

Patron: His Excellency The Governor-General; President: Professor Adamson; Vice-Presidents: W. P. Rollings (Chairman), J. F. Platts-Mills, L.L.B. Secretary: G. R. Powles, L.L.B.; Treasurer: C. H. Arndt, L.L.B.; Committee: Misses M. E. Cooley, M. A. and C. S. Forde, Messrs. A. E. Campbell, B.A., and H, R. Bannister; Auditor: Mr. S. C. W. Watkins.

Mr. Heyting's researches having been completed, he returned to the attack with great vigour, but with some lack of lucidity. After some bitter words had passed, the meeting declined to hear him further, preferring to record its unanimous vote in favour of the publication of debates in the press, and its rather faint-hearted regret at the introduction of day lectures.

The first ordinary meeting of the Society this year (being also the 305th ordinary meeting held), was held on 24th March, when the subject for the Tournament Debate was discussed; namely, "That Democracy is a Failure."

Messrs. Platts-Mills and Powles moved the motion, and Messrs. Rollings and Arndt opposed. Mr. Mountjoy added his weight to the affirmative, and Miss Forde and Mr. Riske maintained that Democracy had not yet failed. The judge, Mr. H. F. Johnston, placed the speakers in the following order: 1. Miss Forde; 2. Powles; 3. Platts-Mills; 4. Mountjoy; 5. Riske. Upon a vote being taken, the audience appeared to be in favour of Democracy.

In the Easter Tournament, the Society was represented by Mr. W. P. Rollings and Mr. J. F. Platts-Mills. These speakers were successful in winning the Joynt Scroll for the College, and the Society has every reason to be proud of its representatives. As this happy event is enlarged upon elsewhere in this issue, further comment would here be out of place.

At the next ordinary meeting, the Society found itself confronted with the proposition: "That Teachers" Training Colleges in New Zealand should be closed for a period of years," moved by Messrs Bannister and Forde, and opposed by Misses Forde and Wood. Other members recording their views, or lack of views, on the question, were Messrs. Powles, Hurley and Mountjoy. The audience, as a whole, found themselves in favour of the continued existence of Training Colleges, while, as a member of the Society, the chairman unexpectedly gave his casting vote in favour of the motion. In the absence of the judge appointed for the evening, Mr. A. E. Campbell took upon his shoulders the onerous duty of placing the speakers in order of merit. This duty he ably fulfilled by placing them as follows:—1. Mountjoy; 2. Miss Wood; 3. Miss Forde; 4. Forde; 5. Bannister.

page 64

On 5th May, Messrs. Martin-Smith and Platts-Mills moved, and Messrs. Hall and Powles denied: "That the system of party government is conducive neither to efficient administration, nor to progressive legislation." Although the audience was small, it contained six members who felt that their ideas should be put into words. These were Miss Forde, and Messrs. Arndt, Mountjoy, Haughey, O'Shea, and Forde. The audience found that it condemned the system of party government. Mr. R. R. Kennedy then placed the speakers as follows:—1. Martin-Smith; 2. Hall; 3. Platts-Mills and Forde; 4. Powles; 5. Miss Forde.

The vacation meeting, being the 308th of the Society, was held on 9th May. Messrs. Rollings and Hall moved: "That exemption from military training should be granted to all conscientious objectors, irrespective of denominational creed." The motion was opposed by Messrs. Powles and Hurley. The following also spoke:—Miss Forde, Messrs. Mountjoy, O'Shea, Crossley, Arndt, and Bannister. The audience indicated by their votes that Mr. Rollings' proposition was acceptable to them. Mr. W. J. McEldowney then gave a most interesting and helpful criticism of the speakers, and placed them as follows:—1. Rollings; 2. Powles; 3. Hurley; 4. Arndt; 5 Bannister.

The next meeting of the Society was the result of an invitation issued to the N.Z. Junior Reform and Constitutional League. The motion "That the Government's administration of the mandate for Western Samoa is to be condemned," was moved by the Society's representatives; Hall, Miss Forde, and Mountjoy, and opposed by the Reform League; Quirk, Sykes, and Shorland. Mr. Rollings presided over an attendance of about 45 enthusiasts who had braved the inclemency of the weather.

The debate proved a very willing one, the Government's supporters being careless whether they spoke from the platform or from the floor of the House. The following members, either of the League or the Society, presented their opinion in a more or less coherent form:—O'Shea, Arndt, Guthrie and Harvey.

Professor B. E. Murphy gave it as his opinion that the debate had been won by the Society, and placed the speakers as follows:—Shorland, Mountjoy, Hall, O'Shea and Miss Forde. The audience proved themselves to begin the government" by 23 votes to 21.