COLLEGE ORATORY

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 97, 21 October 1936, Page 18

COLLEGE ORATORY

CULTURAL SUBJECTS

HEADMASTER'S PLEA

Clear, carefully-prepared speeches typified the fifth annual oratory, contest of the Rongotai College Dialectic Society held in the college gymnasium last night. Mr. F. C. Spratt judged the contest, which was,divided into two sections, allowing junior speakers (Ballard Cup)'five minutes each and senior speakers (Burge Cup) sevqn minutes each. The contest drew sixteen junior entrants and ten senior entrants, but these speakers had been reduced to six in each section. The senior section was won by W. G. Smith, with D. A. Muir second, and the junior contest was won by K. Dudson, with G. S. Shapiro (last year's winner) second. Among those present were Captain and Mrs. Burge, who had done much in helping to develop the Dialectic Society. ' In welcoming the visitors,to the contest Mr. Ralph Hogg expressed gratitude at Mr. F. C. Spratt's kindness in once more consenting to judge the contest. Mr. Hogg explained that the Dialectic Society had come into existence to give the boys of the college practice in public speaking and debating. Although the contest did not represent the most important part of the society's work, it was of value in that it gave the boys self-confidence and ability to speak with confidence in public. ' . x He stressed the value of the society in helping the boys to form their own opinions rather than accepting those of others. He had been pleased to note that Mr. Jack Aimers, an old boy of the school and a former member of the society, had this year won the coveted Plunket Medal. Mr. Spratt. in commenting on the speeches, said that he was pleased that Rongotai College was trying to develop a liking for the cultural subjects amongst its pupils. Oratorywwans n certainly one of the highest cultural attainments. • Oratory, said Mr. Spratt, was not merely a recital of dates and past events, nor was it a delivery of some laboriously-prepared matter gathered together fora special occasion. It was the utterance of beautiful thoughts inspired by high ideals. "Hitch your wagon to a star, and oratory is a very fine star," he . concluded. At the conclusion of the evening Mr. F. M. Renner thanked Mr. Spratt for judging the contest. He agreed that the cultural subjects were by far the. most important. It was regrettable that primary schools showed such little interest in impressing upon children the need for them. He held that they were far more important than mathematics and the sciences, but he had received little support from parents. How would the young people spend their leisure if they had no interest in the cultural side of life? He expressed appreciation of the work of Messrs. R. Hogg, A. J. Herron, and D. G. Edwards in helping to develop the Dialectic Society, and he also thanked Mr. E. Meier for training the college orchestra, which had rendered several items during the even- '■'■ The following boys took part in the contest:—Juniors: S. H. Brown (Dreyifus), A. L. Bruce (Joseph Chamberlain), K. Dudson (Lawrence), W.H.B. lEasterbrook-Smith (Rhodes), G. S. Shapiro (Columbus), and G. L. Tucker (Marlborough). Seniors: W. R. Faniilton (Henry VI), P. J. Moore (Dr. Sun Vat Sen). D. A. Muir (Kitchener), E. J. Osborne (Kipling), WG. Smith (Genghis Khan), and J. H. Williamson (Haigh). '