VICTORIA COLLEGE DEBATING SOCIETY.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 129, 28 November 1904, Page 4

VICTORIA COLLEGE DEBATING SOCIETY.

« ORATORICAL COMPETITION. The oratorical competition in connection with the Victoria Debating Society was held at the Girls' High School on Saturday evening. Each speaker wae allowed to choose one subject to Avhich he had to confine his remarks. Mr. A. R. Atkinson acted as judge. Mr. F. A. de la Mare spoke on the Bible-in-schools, Mr. A. M. Gould advocated the referendum as a means ot Parliamentary reform, and Mr. G. F. Dixon reviewed the systems of land tenure in support of the freehold. Mr. C. H. Taylor, in a humorous speech, urged the abolition of the labour laws of New Zealand; Mr. J. A. Brailsford maintained that the leasehold was the one and only system of land tenure; while Mr. G. Toogood, on the tariff question, favoured preferential trade and the silken cords of Empire. Mr. H. P. Richmond reviewed the. administration of the Government to show that reform was urgently needed, and advocated an impartial Board of Control for the public service; and Mr. A. H. Johnetone, in a telling speech, urged for reform in the Legislative Council, maintaining that some capacity or fitness or public service should be required before appointments were made. Mr. Atkinson said that the (speeches

were of very even merit, but he thought. Messrs. Richmond, Taylor, and Toogood had been most successful, Mr. Toogood excelling in style and Mr. • Richmond in. matter. He awarded first place to Mr. Richmond. A vote ot thanks was passed to Mr. Atkinson for the assistance he had given to the Society. After the competition a ballot was taken for the election of representative* at the Inter-University College Tournament, which is to be held in Wellington next Easter. Messrs. A. H. Jpbnstone and A- G. Quartley were elected, and Messrs. G. Gleeson and H. H. Ostler chosen as reserves.