PUBLIC SPEAKING

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 113, 14 May 1937, Page 6

PUBLIC SPEAKING

UNION OF SOCIETIES

Enthusiastic delegates of the Wellington Union, of Public Speaking Societies met last night at the second annual general meeting of the union and drew up plans for the ? coming season's • activities. Mr. Francis M. Renner presided. The retiring president, Mr. F. M. Ponder, in moving the adoption of the annual report, said that the first year of the union's activities had been successful in creating an interest in public speaking in a number of organisations, leading to the holding of intcrclub debating contests for the rediscovered Parliamentary Challenge Shield. This, year there would also be an oratory contest for a trophy promised by Mr. J. Lyon, M.P. The draw for the inter-club debates would be made ma the near future, and these interesting and instructive contests would commence early in June. Two new clubs, the Twenty-two' Club and the Petone Working Men's Club, were'affiliated. -An invitation was issued to the Victoria College Debating Society, and other organisations j with similar? objects, to affiliate with the union. Mr. Renner stressed the value of public speaking. The following officers were elected: —Patron, the Hon. P. Fraser; president, Mr. Francis M. Renner; vicepresidents, Professor G. W. yon Zedlitz,:Mr. J. W. Lyon, M.P., Messrs. Len Greenberg and F. H. Bass, the Rev. J. R. Blanchard and the Rev; Father Higgins, and-also'the .presidents of; affiliated societies; hon. secretary, Mr. L. J. McDonald; Press secretary, Mr. D. A. Carson; committee, Messrs, B. A. Weyburne, B. J. Barnao, S. Keruse, R. H. Beaumont, and W. F. Ponder.

Tribute was paid to the work of the retiring secretary, Mr. J. White.