JOYNT SCROLL DEBATE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 266, 6 August 1937, Page 12

JOYNT SCROLL DEBATE

Won by Victoria College HAS DEMOCRACY FAILED? Dominion Special Service. Auckland, August 5. The annual Joyut Scroll debate between the New Zealand university colleges was held last night, when for the sixteenth time the shield was awarded to Victoria College. The subject for this, the 33rd, contest was "That Democracy Has Failed.” Opening for the affirmative in the debate between Victoria College and Otago University, Mr. A. R. Perry defined democracy in Lincoln’s famous words as “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” The audience were to hear much of this definition during the evening until its mention provoked laughter. Mr. Perry said that economically democracy had not resulted in a satisfactory standard of living, politically it had not brought popular government, and spiritually it had not given the individual full expression of his personality. It was the 23rd anniversary of Britain’s entry into the World War, yet the democratic nations, with an intense drive for selfsufficiency, were moving nearer to conflict. "Democracy has shown an inability to organise in any way whatsoever,” he concluded. Mr. D. L. Wood, leader of the Otago team, said that democracy promised no brilliant results, but was slow and sure; the system was not fully tried, but could only be termed an overwhelming success. He asked under what other system of government could the head of a State have been replaced "with such ease and efficiency” as had been done in Britain. The second speaker for Victoria College, Mr. S. G. Andrews, maintained that democracy as a theory did not fit modern conditions. It had come into being to suit a need of mankind over a century ago. The system had not fulfilled its obligation to provide each man with an equitable share m the production and distribution of the world’s goods. A brighter tone was introduced by Mr. M. G. O’Callaghan, of Otago, when lie referred to the “fulsome flow of fallacious arguments of* previous speakers.” The second debate was between Canterbury College and Auckland. Mr. B. J. Wilson, leader for Canterbury, maintained that democracy failed because its principle of equality was based on a fallacy. It had brought party government, which had robbed the people of any opportunity to formulate policies. Democracy, said Mr. Wilson, by placing so much power with departmental administrators, ultimately developed into a bureaucracy. All*. 11. T. George, of Auckland, made some pertinent comments on what Mr. A. P. Herbert had called political blouses. He said there was in the world at present a mumbo-jumbo of little highbrows who loved to play at savages, aud who benefited only the haberdashery trade; they chose fancy shirts to suit their complexions, anil used gunfire as incidental music. Several remarks by Mr. M. Widdup. of Canterbury, caused amusement, especially when he characterised his audience as portion of that one-sixth section of humanity that .was intelligent. In continuing the debate for Auckland, Mr. E. K. Braybrooke said thai the State was the collective aspect of the individual, and the individual the distributive aspect of the State. Mr. Julius Hogben, announcing the decision on behalf of the other two judges, Mr, J. W. Shaw aud the Rev. P. Gladstone Hughes, placed Victoria College first with 191 points, and Auck laud next with 179. Mr. Andrews was adjudged the best, speaker, with Mr. George one point behind.