CATHOLIC CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

Press, Volume C, Issue 29478, 3 April 1961, Page 12

CATHOLIC CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

Easter Tournament

The annual Easter tournament of the Federated Catholic Clubs and Societies of New Zealand started on Saturday, when debates on the subject, “That Compulsory Unionism in New Zealand be Abolished” were held. Also held on Saturday was a tennis competition, a table tennis competition, and oratory and impromptu speech competitions. Seven teams, from Christchurch. Timaru. and Dunedin, took part in the competitions, which ended last evening. Today the annual conference of the Federated Catholic Clubs and Societies is to be held.

The debating competition was judged by the member of Parliament for Riccarton (Mr M. A. Connolly). Mr Connolly said that the standard of the debate was high, but the affirmative team concentrated a little too much on their own case and not sufficiently on demolishing the arguments of their opponents.

Mr A. Hearn, who judged the oratory competitions, said that the standard was high. He said, however, that it was the task of the speaker to urge the audience to do something with persuasive simplicity, rather than merely to inform them. On Saturday evening, Mr D. B. Clarkson judged the impromptu speech competition Mr Clarkson said he was pleased with the interest in speaking the young people had, and with their ability to stand and speak for five minutes.

Miss M. Hopewell, who judged the elocution competition yesterday morning, said the elocution pieces were very difficult, but they were handled excellently. When he had judged the religious questions competition yesterday, the Rev. A. J. McKay, S.M., said: “I have been very impressed by the standard of all competitors. They have done a great deal of hard work.” Results were as follows: Debate.—Central Catholic No. 2 team (P. M. Joyce and B. Hamilton). 1; Sacred Heart, Timaru team (G. Rae and W. Minehan). 2; Riccarton No. 2 team IR. Sumpter and M. Noonan) 3. Best speaker: K. G. Heslin (Catholic Youth Movement). Oratory—Catholic Youth Movement (Miss A. McCormack) 1. Central Catholic No. 2 (E. Ryan) 2. Centra) Catholic No. 1 <P. Lloyd) 3 Table Tennis.—A. Peebles (Sacred Heart. Timaru) 1. B. Hamilton (Central No. 2) 2. Tennis—R. Brown (Central Catholic No. 1) 1, M. Sugrue (Sacred Heart. Timaru) 2. Impromptu Speech.—C.Y.M (Miss L. O’Brien) 1. Central Catholic No. 1 (P. Lloyd) 2. Riccarton No. 1 (M. Shackel) 3. Elocution.—Sacred Heart (Miss A. Clark) 1. C.Y.M. (Miss A. O’Sullivan) 2. Riccarton No. 1 (R. Findlay) 3. Religious Questions.—Sacred Heart (Miss N. Cunningham) 1. Central Catholic No. 2 (J. Fraher) 2. Central Catholic No. 1 (J. Manning) 3. Hayward Shield. Sacred Heart (12 points) I. Central Catholic No. 2 (10 points) 2. C.Y.M. (8 points) 3.