"New Speakers" Debate.

Poor attendance was the only disappointing feature of the second New Speakers' Debate, held last Thursday. The subject, "That the student is prepared to be instructed rather than to think," gave an opportunity for much pointed criticism of our University system, and speakers were not slow in referring the argument to V.U.C. in particular. "Potted information," "the utter apathy in various discussion clubs here," and the existence of "group opinions," provided the main planks in the affirmative platform. The negative based their case on the "advanced" movements among students in countries all over the world, with radicalism at Victoria as a fitting climax. "Certainly we didn't get that radicalism from our professors!" said one speaker.

The lighter vein was not absent. "I have here—." "A library!" supplied a prompt interjector, with an eye to the speaker's formidable pile of documentary evidence. Then there was a moving argument based on the digestive organs of one McElwain—but perhaps we weren't supposed to be amused!

After hearing the evidence the audience were evenly divided, but the chairman's casting vote went in favour of the motion. The judge (Mr. McCarthy), after some very helpful criticism, placed the speakers in the following order: Mr. Jack, Miss Stock, Mr. Mitchell, Miss Hefford, Mr. Alexander.