OXFORD STUDENTS

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18342, 27 March 1925, Page 8

OXFORD STUDENTS

ARRIVAL OF DEBATING PARTY.

3IR MACDONALD'S VIEW'S ON BRITISH POLITICS. (special to "the rwus.") AUCKLAND, March 26. Three young men representing the Oxford Union, who liave been debating politics with University students of Canada and the United States of America, arrived at Auckland by the Tofua from Suva to-day. They are Messrs J. D. Woodruffe, M. C. Hollis and M. J. Mac-Donald, the last-named being a son of Mr Ramsay Mac-Donald, recently Prime Minister of England. The three debaters aro pleasant young men with no trace of the sententious or pedantic, and their genial method of conversation leads to the belief that they would be entertaining debaters. They were to have taken part in two debates in Auckland, but tho delayed arrival of the Tofua has compelled the abandonment of one lixturo. In Canada and the United States the Oxford men debated ten subjects. Mr Mac-Donald stated ' that _ in tho States they debated in opposition to Prohibitum, but that at each centre visited, excepting San the audiences voted in favour of Prombition. Tho debaters spoko for the _ League of Nations in four cities, but in each the voting was against America joining the League, although tho minorities w«ro large. A surprising thing about tho Imasted freedom loving and individually enterprising American was that in a debate "That State interference with the individual is one of the greatest evils of tho timo" (maintained by the Oxford men), the voting was dead against the contention. Mr Mac Donald, questioned regarding the political situation iu England, said that the result of tho elections "0 n which ho was an absentee candidate, standing in the Labour interests for Bassellew, Notts), did not cause him any surprise. Tho Conservatives took two million and tile Labourites one million votes from the Liberals. It was apparent that in British polities there was to be a return to the two-party-system, and he believed that tho Liberal Party would disappear and the political fight would be carried on between Conservatism and Labour. He believed that the party now in power would continue to govern for the whole duration of this Parliament, and that it would probably also bo returned to power at next elections. After that, however, ho thought Labour would return to power and would "rule for at least eight or ton years. "But it is foolish to prophesy," said Mr MacPonald. "Some "big thing, or even some little filing, may occur at any time to change people's opinions and upset the whole political situation, but I think definitely that it will bo a fight between Conservatism and Labour for the ncxti generation in British politics." The trio will leave for Wellington and tho South Island By tho "Limited" to-morrow evening. They will leave Auckland on their return to England via Australia about April 10th. Thevisitors were met and welcomed on the Tofua when the vessel arrived this morning by Mr Rocke O'Shea, Registrar of the University of Auckland.

(PBBSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

AUCKLAND, March 26,

The members of the Oxford University debating team debated the question of "Free Trade Within the Umpire ".with the Auckland University team to-night. The debate was not jndged. The party leaves to-morrow for Wellington.