UNIVERSITY DEBATING SOCIETY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 907, 29 August 1910, Page 9

UNIVERSITY DEBATING SOCIETY.

Tho fortnightly meeting of the .Victoria College Debating Society was held on Saturday evening, Mr. R. Kennedy, M.A., LL.B., being in tho chair. Tho motion for discussion was: "That tho progress and prosperity of the Australasian colonies would hove' been retarded by tho adoption of the leasehold system." Mr. P. B. Broad, seconded by Mr. T. N. Holmden, moved tho motion, whilo Mr. L. P. Leary, seconded by Mr. E. W. Indor, led tho opposition, and several other members spoke. Tho movers stressed tho point that the leaseholder is not encouraged put his best work into the land, that immigrants would'not havo como to tho country had they not'been able to obtain homes of their own, and that the severity of raising'rent at the expiration of a lease was worse than taxation by custom. The opposers contended that leasehold would havo increased the revoriue, and, consequently, lessoned taxation; would havo incrouecd tho production of land, and obviated mortgages; that the price of land would not bo inflated, and that workers could get oh tho land with considerably less capital. The motion, being put, was declared lost.. Mr. G. M. Thomson, M.P., who judged the debate, made the following award, for the purposo of the union prism:—Messrs. L. P. Leary, C. H. Taylor, M.A., E. W. Indcr, and T. N. Holmden and E. E. Rnthcrfurd (equal). The next meoting of the socioty will be held on Septembor 10, when tho Plunkot Medal competition will take place.