CANTERBURY COLLEGE DIALECTIC SOCIETY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17408, 20 March 1922, Page 7

CANTERBURY COLLEGE DIALECTIC SOCIETY.

SELECTION OF JSEPEESENTATIVES . The Canterbury Cofleje Dialectic Society held a debate on Saturday night, for the purpose of selecting representatives for the Easter tournament at Auckland, Before the debate was commenced, Professor H. Stow art, who presided, thanked the Society tor ejecting hun president for the ensuing year. Prolessor {itewart extended a hearty welcome to the new members or the feociety, and urged them to carry on the line traditions of the oldest ot the college societies, Professor Stewart also welcomed Mr A. is. Taylor, .who, with Professor Condliffe, was to judge the debate. The motion was aa follows: lhat rights of self-government Bimilar to those enjoyed by the self-governing Dominions should -bo granted to India." The speakers in the contest were as follows: —For the motion: Messrs E. D. It. Smith, A. W, Page, W. McCuilough, and E. A. Osmers. Against the motion: Messrs K. Cr. Archer and J. B. Batchelor. The judges placed the speakers ais follows: Messrs Archer, Batchelor, Page, and Smith. Messrs Archer and Batchelor are thus the representatives of Canterbury College in the intercollege contest. Mr A. S. Taylor, formerly a very prominent member of the Society, in announcing the decision of the judges, gave some hintß aa to the best method of conducting a tournament debate. Fighting speeches were essential, as the audience,- if not exactly hostile, was hostile in certain respects. Tho time limit must be strictly observed. Time must be allowed for interruptions. The speakers that evening required more vigour and earnestness. Tlie audience must be interested at all costs. Colloquialisms must be avoided as affording good openings to facetious members of tho audience. Mr Taylor Briefly criticised the various speeches, and concluded by expressing the hope that the Society's representatives would again win tho contest. On being put to the audience, the motion before the meeting was negatived by a considerable majority.