DEBATES

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 49, 26 August 1921, Page 3

DEBATES

An interesting debate took place last evening at the V.M.C.A., Willis-street, between teams representing tho Wellington Accountant Students' Society and the V.M.C.A, The subject for debate was "That the establishment of a SJate <overseas shipping service is in the best interests of tho Dominion." The Wellington Accountant Students' Society, represented by Messrs. T. Auton, L. Jones, and W. F. Stock, took the affirmative, and the V.M.C.A., represented by Messrs. 0. E. Bujrton, P. R. Fulton, and N. Gray, the negative. Mr. H. S. Hart was chairman, and Mr. J, W Black acted as judge. After a keenly-contested debate, in which the various points were clearly brought but, the judge declared the V.M.C.A. team the winner by a narrow majority. The fortnightly meeting of the Brooklyn Methodist Musical, Literary, and Debating Society was held on Wednesday evening. Mr. Pragnell presided over a good attendance. The motion, "That international disarmament is desirable," was moved by Messrs. Seddon and M'Dowell and opposed by Mr. Hindlo and the Rev. 3. .Ward. Mr. Seddon criticised very strongly tho onormous amounts being spent on armaments when so much was required for peaceful development. Ho pointed out that Britain could not compete commercially afrajnsfc Germany if she was to spend so much money on armaments while Germany, forced to disarm by the Peace Treaty, spent snch on. insignificant sum. Mr. Hindle, in opposing the motion, referred to the enormous amounts being spent on armaments by America, and stated that while wo had this larpe 1 democratic , nation leading the world in armanients it was unsafo to attempt anything in the way of disarmament. At the conolnsion of the debate a vote taken showed a small majority in favour of disarmament.