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Debating Society

At the beginning of the year the Committee of the Debating Society decided on several changes that might be described (in debating circles at all events) as revolutionary. For the first time since the inception of the club the syllabus was not printed. Publication of this booklet means that throughout the year the society is necessarily retarded in its activities. The subjects for the next eight or nine months must all be chosen in February. World affairs cannot safely be chosen for inclusion in the list of subjects. For all we know in February, the Spanish War may be a thing of the past in August. Without a syllabus this difficulty is overcome. Events of topical interest are available for debating purposes within a week after their occurrence, and attendances this year have shown an increase that is itself complete justification for the step taken.

Messrs. J. B. Aimers and K. Tahiwi went to Auckland to compete in the Bledisloe Medal contest as representatives of this University, and the former returned victor.

In the Joynt Scroll contest held at Massey College we were not so fortunate; nevertheless the judges thought sufficiently well of Mr. Aimers' speech to place him second out of ten contestants from all over the Dominion. Messrs. N. A. Morrison, A. L. McCulloch and C. A. Myers were the other representatives from Victoria. To Otago, who won the shield, we extend sincere congratulations.

The National Broadcasting Service, as in the past, has arranged inter university debates with the same gratifying results.

We have been unfortunate in one respect, Tentative arrangements had been concluded to have with us in the Visitors' Debate (in some ways considered the outstanding debate of the year), Mr. W. L. Barker and Dr. McMillan. With the election less than a month off, arrangements had to be abandoned.

Perhaps the two main functions of the Society this year were the Plunket Medal contest and the visit of the Negro Debaters. Accounts of these events may be found elsewhere in this issue; suffice it to say here that each was completely satisfactory from every point of view. We extend our congratulations in the first place to Messrs. W. Wah and R. W. Edgley, winner and runner-up in the Plunket Medal contest, and in the second place to Miss M. Shortall and Mr. A. H. Scotney who opposed the American team.

The Union Prize last year was won by Mr. S. G. Andrews and the New Speakers' Prize by Mr. C. J. Treadwell.

The success of this year's activities, then, appears sufficiently from the facts set out here. The society will enter 1939 with optimism.