DEBATING UNION FORMED

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22085, 6 May 1937, Page 7

DEBATING UNION FORMED

I DELEGATES MEET AT ASHBURTON I OFFICERS ELECTED FOR YEAR A meeting to discuss the formation of a debating union for the district was held on Tuesday evening, with Mr E. J. Wood presiding' over a large attendance of delegates, representing the Ashburton Catholic Club, High School Debating Club, Haeremai Debating Club. Willowby Mutual Improvement Society, St. Stephen's Literary and Social Club, Ashburton Druids', Foresters', and Oddfellows' Lodges. It was decided to form a union to be known as the. Ashburton County 'Debating Union, membership . to be open to. any club or lodge which had its headquarters in the Ashburton County, and which fostered the art of debating and public speaking. It was resolved that the management be placed in the hands of the executive committee, consisting of the officers and three delegates and the functions of the union would be to organise a series of debates amongst affiliated members and to appoint judges for the debates. The affiliatiton fee was fixed at 10s 6d a year to be paid before the annual meeting which was to be held not later than March 15 but for this season the affiliation fee was to be paid on or before June 30. It was decided that the time for speeches; in all debates'should be'lo minutes for each of the opening speakers, seven minutes for each of the supporting speakers, and five minutes for the replies. The following officers were elected: Patron. Mr H. E. Herring, M.P.; president, Mr E. J. Wood; vice-president, Mr J. Connell; secretary-treasurer, Mr S. M. Cassidy; auditor, Mr W. H. Amos; three delegates on the management committee, Messrs D. A. Bird, W. R. Crowther, and A. Hayman. One hundred copies of useful hints on debating were received from an anonymous donor for distribution among the members of the union. Mr J. Connell, for those present thanked Messrs Wood, Cassidy, and R. G. Ross for work done in inaugurating the union.