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SMAD. An Organ of Student Opinion. 1934. Volume 5. Number 2.

Scotney Goes Nazi — Autocrat Awes Mutinous Meeting

page 5

Scotney Goes Nazi

Autocrat Awes Mutinous Meeting

If Mr. Scotney were in Heidelberg, steel helmets, bombs, and concentration-camps would not baulk him. It is seldom that students have such splendid opportunities of witnessing an exhibition of the Hitler method as Herr Scotney demonstrated at the recent Debating Society and Labour Club meetings. The Great Example himself could scarcely have gagged the unruly element at the Labour Club as did the Local Product, while Hitler's methods lack that finnesse and tact displayed by the chairman at the Annual General Meeting of the Debating Society.

At the Labour Club, Mr. Scotney was confronted with a very mixed audience, consisting of those who had come with the genuine intention of fostering a new club, and those who had "looked in for the fun of the thing." This latter element, with its perverted sense of humour and general farmer-intellect, is becoming too common at club meetings, and Mr. Scotney is to be congratulated for the skilful manner in which he outmanoeuvred their stupidity.

The "fun" began when Mr. Edgley, with his accustomed genius, wit, and originality, moved by way of amendment to Clause I. of the Constitution that the name be changed to the "Conservative Club," a name as misplaced and ludicrous as Mr. Edgley's humour. It was then that the chairman, by voluble evasions and forceful manner, saved the club from an ignoble end at the hands of these irresponsibles by talking a majority out of an amendment, which they had a constitutional right to put.

Finally, after further wrangling, the Constitution was passed by 34 votes to 24. Stout work, Mr. Chairman !

Application for affiliation with the Students' Association was the next matter to come under fire, and after the somewhat misdirected incoherences of the McGhie in support of the Free Discussions Club, the motion was put. A sharp exchange of views passed between the chairman and Mr. Desborough when the voting disclosed a majority of one against the application for affiliation, and Mr. Scotney, exercising both a deliebrate and casting vote in an unconstitutional direction, declared the motion carried. Mr. Desborough hotly demanded a divsion, and with this confirmation the Labour Club gained leave to apply for affiliation. The meeting was not a peaceful one, but a sharp-witted autocrat in the chair robbed the duller wits of any satisfaction.

And now, Mr. Scotney, we must plead guilty of a despicable piece of journalese in an attempt to draw attention to this report. We withdraw our insinuations of any Nazi, and even quasi-Nazi sentiments, and congratulate you on your extremely capable management of an unruly obstruction which lacked even the quality of wit.