STUDENTS' DEBATE

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 34, 9 August 1934, Page 10

STUDENTS' DEBATE

WON BY LAW TEAM

DISARMAMENT AND PEACE

Will disarmament secure the peace of the world? The question was debated last evening between teams of three representing the Wellington Law Students' Society and the Wellington Accountant Students' Society. Tho l.'iw students, who took tho negative,

Messrs. B. jST. Vickerman (leader), M. H. Jackson, aud T. E. Eunis comprised tho law students' team, and the Accountant Students' Society team were Messrs. 11. L. Cooper (leader), D. E. Porter, and J. S. Osbornc. A very good impression was. created by Mr. Osborne. He had, as the judge (Mr. W. P. .Rollings) remarked, a refreshing and interesting 'manner, but he was declared to have detracted from the merit of his speech by terminating it with a "sermon on tho benefits.of disarmament." But for that, Mr. Boilings said, he1 undoubtedly would have been placed first. " Mr. .Jackson was awarded first placo with 59 points, ami Mr." Osborne secured 58 points.

Tho debate was hold in the. Accountants' Chambers, and Mr. A. Marshall, chairman ,of the Public, Speaking Circle of tho Accountant Students' Society, presided. • ■'

In support of tho motion that 'disarmament would secure the peace of tho. world, Mr. Cooper contended that whilo. tlio question of' armaments existed there was a state of fear of invasion. The great- thinkers and the men who gave the matter' consideration from it. ..national standpoint, advocated disarmament. To be a success and in order to secure tho peace of tho world, however, disarmament must be given effect to by all the nations, not only some. "While nations were bristling with ai'maments tho inevitable tendency was for them to "try themselves out" oil their neighbours. Mr. yickcrinan said that the lawstudents' team advocated armament, not because they wanted war, but to ensuro the peace of tho world, not a peace, at any prico but an honourable

peace. Any policy of disarmament by any nation today would be nothing else j than a policy of s,uicide. After all, it was not armaments which caused the war of 1914, but the national policies, the- economic pressure; and the demands of populations for an outlet and for food. Mr. Viekerman proceeded to elaborate on the population aspect. After replying to some of the points raised by Mr. Vickerman, Mr. Porter argued that armaments led to fear which was the c:\usc of war. PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECT. One o£ the points made by, Mr. Jackson was that human nature being what it is war could not be ruled out entirely. Had the Great War led to the belief that there was any change in human nature? Since that war there there had- been nothing but rumours of war and threats of war. Tho speakers for the negative, contended Mr. Osborne, had attacked the question entirely from the wrong point of view. They had dealt with the state of the world to.day. The question, however, was whether tho peoples of the world could live peacefully when the nations were armed.. His contention was that such a state of affairs must .mean war some time or other. Without armaments international peace would bo possible; there would be fewer great national problems and consequently perfect peace; . • Mr. Ennis dealt with the question from the economic point of view and contended that the movers of the motion had not shown that disarmament itself would lead to peace. The economic causes of war could be perhaps best illustrated by the Franco-Prussian War. The conclusion lie drew ' was

whether nations- disarmed -or-not economic pressure and competition would brings them into conflict and-would lead to war. ■■.'■'

After.Mr. Vickcrman and Mr. Cooper had .replied on behalf o£ the respective teams, Mr. Rollings announced the results. Before doing so, he commented on certain aspects of tlio speeches and gave some useful advice to the contestants. He said he awarded the honours to the law students' team by a very small margin.. He thought they had presented a better argument. and that their team work was. better.

German., girls, on»leaving, school, will in the near future have to take a post as "mother's help" for a year before entering the labour market. They will receive their board and lodgings, - but no pay- ■':■•' :