DEBATING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 11, 13 July 1909, Page 4

DEDATING.

UNION COMPETITION. RESULTS OF THE FIRST ROUND. The fifth annual tournament of the Wellington-Provincial Literary and Debating Societies' Union opened last niglit in various parts of the city on the subject oi the two-Power naval standard. , The* motion before the house in each case was —"That it is necessary for Great Britain to maintain the two-Power naval standard," supported by thr^e and rebutted by three members of tho competing societies. Judges were asked to allot points on the following basis : — Matter 50, delivery 25, and method 25. Victoria- College met the St. John's Society in the St. John's Schoolroom. Dr. Gibb presided; Mr. J. W. Poynton was judge. The college, taking the affirmative, scored 239 against St. John's 235. Messrs W. M'Eldowney, J. G. Mason, and A. Fair represented the College, and Messis C. A. Redgrave, H. j F. Thompson, and J. BoaJ St. John's Vivian-street Baptists met Taranakistreet Wesleyans, and won rather easily by 269 votes to 241. The speakers were1 —Vivian-street, Messrs J. R. Laikin, 1 A. Proctor, and A. J. Humphries; Tara- ; naki-street, Messrs. J. R. Burley, G. Keall, and E. dimming. Mr. A. E. Budd was chairman, Mr. A. L. Herd- | man, M.P., judge. V.M.C.A. travelled to Island Bay, and defeated the St. Hilda's trio by 241 points to 228. V.M.C.A. wero represented by Messrs. W. E. Dickinson, C. J. Nicklen, and H. N. Holmes; St. Hilda's by Messrs. G. Levy, N. Manhire, and E. Boocock. Mr. J. W. Black acted as judce. The Wellington Catholic Club had an easy victory over the Brooklyn Baptist Society by 275 to 230. The teams were —Catholic Club, Messrs. J. M Gowan, P. J. M'Govern, and R. Butcher ; Baptist Society, Messrs. F. C. M'Qvarrie, K. C: O'Connor, and E. Beavis. The Rev. A. Dewdney presided, and Mr. F. M. B. Fibher, M.P.. acted as judge. Karori won their debate against St. Anne's by default.