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The Spike or Victoria College Review 1947

Debating Society

page 51

Debating Society

The popularity of the Debating Society has con tinued this year with audiences that packed the gym. There have been many new speakers and the number of speaking members has remained at about 50.

Owing to the number of clubs that use the gym on Friday evenings it has not been possible to hold as many debates as in previous years. In spite of this a number of varied and topical subjects have been debated, some of which were:—

'That the foreign policy of the U.S.S.R. is detrimental to world peace'; 'That the foreign policy of the U.S.A. is detrimental to the United Nations 'Organisation '; 'That Atheism is justifiable'; 'That Militant Unionism is a threat to the welfare of New Zealand'; 'That the emancipation of women is breaking up family life'; 'That Euthanasia is desirable'; 'That the Legislative Council should be abolished.'

During the Second Term an evening of Impromptu Debates was held. The Plunket Medal oratory contest was held on Saturday, July 12. It was won by J. Milburn who spoke on Ramsay MacDonald. The judges were Mrs Z. Mountjoy, the Rev Martin Sullivan and Dr A. M. Finlay, M. P. Leonard Samuj who spoke on Rabindranath Tagore was placed second and Bill Hume, speaking on L. E. C. Oates, third.

Victoria College was placed first and third in the Bledisloe Medal oratory contest. Brendan O'Connor, speaking on Thomas Bracken, was the winner and Kevin O'Brien, whose subject was Timi Kara, was placed third. Our Joynt Scholl representatives were Kevin O'Brien and Frank O'Flynn, who won second place for the College.