OTTAWA CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 178, 29 July 1932, Page 8

OTTAWA CONFERENCE.

. • » CAN IT SUCCEED ? LEYS INSTITUTE DEBATE. The Leys Institute Literary and Debating Union met in the institute; Ponsonby, on Thursday evening. The chairman, Mr. J. Allum, introduced the subject for debate, "That the Ottawa Conference muet prove futile." Mr. J. X. Casly, for the affirmative, stressed the importance of Britain's overseas investments .relative to the Dominions and foreign countries, and developed the argument of the influence of investments on the deliberations of the conference. Mr. J. C. Black advanced the theory that failure at Ottawa would be the admission of failure of human endeavour, and was of the opinion that in epite of the difficulties good must come from | an assembly of leaders of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Mr. J. H. Farland showed the preponderance of and the increase in the import of foreign goods into the Do minions. Great Britain could not hold or rqgain her markets simply by a moral appeal to "Buy British Goods," but must fall into line and produce cheaper articles. Mr. R. J. Hughes endeavoured to show that, at this time of depression, when the British- Commonwealth of Nations was faced with tremendous issues, the inter-change of ideas at Ottawa would produce a spirit of co-operation which, in a final analysis, would crown the conference with unqualified success.

Mr. A. 11. Clarke held that Ottawa must prove futile owing to the fact that the paramount ieeues requiring first attention were war debts and reparation problems. The Dominions were asking too much of Great Britain. Mr. H. B. Arthur, for the negative, recounted the failure of individual governments' and emphasised the "give rather than take" attitude of representatives, in an attempt ■ to- show that concerted discussions, plue a mutual epirit of 'assistance, would bring good results. Contributions to the discussion were made by Mrs. M. B.' Soljack, and Mesers: F. W. Castle, G. G. Grant, J. Allum and K. L. Slyfield. On a vote by the audience , the affirmative team were declared-winners of the debate. The Leys Union team to meet the Marists Old Boye in the Athenaeum Cup contest' on Thursday, August 11, was announced as Messrs. F. W. Castle, G. U. Grant and K. L. Slyfield. The Leys Union will take the affirmative in the debate, "That the solution of the present economic difficulties lies" in Communistic organisation of society.