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The Spike: or, Victoria College Review, September 1926

Debating Society

page 49

Debating Society

Sketch of male academic shouting with words 'urquent rustice sane'

Since the last issue of the "Spike" we are pleased to report that the Society has maintained its activities with a most encouraging degree of success, despite the disturbing influence of such necessary evils as influenza and vacations. Nor have we during this period kept our light under a bushel, but rather (rightly or wrongly) have sought to justify ourselves in the eyes of the public, and also to satisfy a somewhat uncertain object of the Society, that of forming a link between the University and the public. For the third time this session a public debate was held on 31st July, on the question of the Navy League, and despite a counter-attraction in the form of a rendering of Carmen by the Choral Union in the Town Hall, a very substantial audience found its way to the debate in the Concert Chamber.

The desirability of increasing the number of public debates seems indeed to be somewhat of an open question, especially by reason of the fact that visiting speakers taking part in the debates means that the number of members of the Society who have an opportunity of taking a leading part in debates is correspondingly limited.

The 286th meeting of the Society was held on the 5th June, when Mr. J. T. V. Steele, seconded by Mr. C. G. R. James, endeavoured to dispose of Royalty as expensive luxury, while Mr. Raymond, seconded by Mr. Heyting, fired by loyal sentiments sought to justify its existence. The motion was "That the early disappearance of the Monarchy is to be welcomed."The following also took place in the discussion:—Messrs. I. W. Fraser. Hurley, and De Montalk; Misses C. S. and K. Forde; Miss Cooley and Mr. J. Platts-Mills. Mr. S. A. Wiren acting as Judge, placed the speakers in the following order:—Messrs. C. G. R. James, J. Platts-Mills, Heyting: Miss K. Forde; Messrs. Steele and Raymond (5th equal).

On the 19th June. Miss Cooley and Mr. A. E. Campbell in seeking a more even distribution of wealth moved: "That the existing right of inheritance of Wealth should be abolished." Mr. Heyting, seconded by Mr. C. G. R. James, opposed the motion. Miss Cooley and her seconder failed to convince either the members of the Society or the Society as a whole of desirability of the motion, as it was lost on both votes.

Mr. V. Evans, in the course of his judgment, placed the speakers in the following order:—Miss Cooley, Messrs. Heyting, Campbell. Rollings, Platts-Mills, Miss K. Forde, and Mr. James (5th equal). The following also took part in the discussion:—Miss C. S. Forde, Messrs. J. T. V. Steele. Pope, and Arndt.

On 3rd July. Mr. C E. de Montalk, seconded by Mr. T. M. Hughes, opened an attack on the recent bus regulations, by moving: "That the gazetting of the recent bus regulations is to be deplored."The action of the Government was justified by Messrs. J. Platts-Mills and R. E. Tripe, who opposed the motion. The following also took part in the discussion:—Messrs. A. E. Hurley, W. J. Heyting, J. W. Fraser, Morton, H. F. Bollard. F. D. O'Halloran, W. P. Rollings.

On both votes the action of the Government was substantially endorsed. Mr. O. C. Mazengarb, in the course of a very helpful critical judgment, placed the speakers in the following order:—Messrs. W. J. Hevting W. P. Rollings, A. E. Hurley, J. Platts-Hills, T. M. Hughes and R. E. Tripe.

A subject with religious implications was debated on 17th July, when Mr. C. G. R. James, seconded by Mr. W. J. Heyting, moved: "That the effects or organised religion are such that its early disappearance would be beneficial to the community. The following also took part in the page 50 discussion:—Miss M. Cooley; Messrs. Hurley, Bannister, Morton, Fielder, Graham, Smith and Rollings. Both votes at the conclusion of the debate seemed to indicate that most present still had confidence in organised religion.

The Judge, Mr. A. B. Sievwright. placed the speakers in the following order:—Messrs. Rollings, Graham, Steele, Mr. C. G. R. James and Miss Cooley (4th equal), Bannister.

On 31st July the third public debate of the session was held in the Town Hall Concert Chamber, when the ideals of the Navy League ware discussed. Mr. W. J. Heyting, seconded by Mr. R. Darroch (secretary of the Wellington Branch of the Navy League) justified the existence of the League, while Mr. C. G. R. James, seconded by Mr. P. J. O'Regan. sought to undermine the ideals of the League. The following members also took part in the discussion: Miss Cooley, Messrs. C. De Montalk, O Halioran, and Hurley, To vary the monotony of conventional voting at the close of the debate, a vote was taken before and after the speeches. The first vote disapproved of the Navy League by 107 to 87. but at the conclusion of the debate the audience was even more emphatic in its denunciation of the League, this time by 159 to 50 votes. The judge, Hon. J. A. Young, placed the best speakers in the following order: Mr. Heyting, Miss Cooley, Messrs. James, O'Halloran, and De Montalk.

The progress of woman was called into question on 14th August, when Mr. R. E. Pope, seconded by Mr. W. Harris, moved, white Miss M. Cooley, seconded by Miss I. Watson, opposed the motion, "That woman had more than come into her own."The following members also took part in the discussion, Mr. Heyting, Miss K. Forde, Messrs. De Montalk, Steele, Platts-Mills, Misses C. S. Forde and Wood, Messrs. O'Halloran, Darroch, McKenzie, and Arndt. Both the audience and the members of the Society seemed to be of the opinion that woman's progress had not been too expeditious. The judge, Mr. A. W. Blair, placed the best speakers as follows: Mr. J. Platta-Mills, Misses K. Forde and M. Cooley, Mr. Heyting, and Mr. Steele.

The last ordinary debate before the Plunket Medal was held on 28th August, when the second subject having religious implications was debated. Mr. F. D. O'Halloran, seconded by Mr. W. J. Heyting, moved, while Mr. W. P. Rollings, seconded by Mr. 1. W. Fraser, opposed the motion, "That modern science is irreconcilable with Christianity."The following also took part in the debate. Miss K. Forde, Messrs. A. E. Hurley, R. M. Campbell. M. McWilliams, Darroch, Arndt, and Miss K. Forde. The motion was lost on both votes. Mr. D. Smith placed the best speakers in the following order: Messrs. R. M. Campbell, W. J. Heyting, W. P. Rollings, F. D. O'Halloran, I. W. Fraser, Miss K. Forde, and Mr. A. E. Hurley.

We desire to congratulate Mr. J. Platts-Mills on his winning the Plunket Medal. He indeed delivered a speech for which in the history of the Plunket Medal contest it is very difficult to find a precedent. It was a great victory for originality and in all a not unworthy achievement. We hope to hear more of Mr. Platts-Mills in later years.