NEGRO DEBATERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 6, 7 July 1938, Page 11

NEGRO DEBATERS

ARRIVAL TODAY

ROUND OF VISITS

The American negro debaters, Mr. J. S. Byas and Mr. C. W* Gilton, of Le Moyne College, Memphis, Tennessee, and their manager, Professor B. G. Alexander, a Russian naturalised in America, who are touring the Dominion under the auspices of the New Zealand University Students' Association, arrived from Palmerston North this morning after a debate £tt Massey Agricultural College last night. . The visitors were accompanied from Palmerston by Mr. J. B. Aimers, the organiser of their tour, and were met at the station by Mr. R. S. C. Agar, chairman of the Students' Association, Mr. F. D. Christensen, r";s secretary, Mr. R. Si V. Simpson and Mr. L. W. Gandar. Professor T. A. Hunter, principal of Victoria University College, and Professor F. F. Miles entertained the visitors at morning tea, after which the two debaters visited Rongotai College, where they addressed the boys. All three visitors were guests at the V.M.C.A. Optimists Club luncheon today, the Consul-General for the United States (Mr. L. C. Pinkerton) also being present. Mr. H. E. 'Brooker presided. Professor Alexander said that he had the honour to be the first debating coach to arrange an jinter-racial debate south of the Mason-Dijion line. The holding of such a debate was proof positive that relations among the different races in the United States were improving steadily and greatly. The team that was at present visiting New Zealand felt honoured in that only two other universities, Washington and Oregon, had sent debaters previously ta Australia and New Zealand. It was the- first negro team ever to have debated outside .the. United States, and the first college representatives from the- interior of the States, Memphis being about 2000 miles from the Pacific Coast. The American negro race had developed in the last 70 years to an extent that very few people realised. Negroes today could proudly say that they excelled in singing and running, as most people knew, and the professor added that he almost said in public speaking,. but the audience would hear for itself. The listeners, said the professor, should remember that the debaters had been coached in English by ;a man born in Russia. (Laughter.) The professor referred to the benefit to be> gained from the tour, not only by the debaters themselves, but also by the students of Memphis and others with whom the debaters would come in contact upon their return to the United States. "Today, in a time of racial persecution and racial antagonism," said the professor, "when the world is almost on the verge of a holocaust we are able to.come together with you, of different racial stock, and eat. and talk together. That is the greatest thing of them all and we are proud of it." * Mr. Byas and Mr. Gilton then spoke, each referring in humorous terms to the other and to Professor Alexander. This afternoon the three addressed a gathering of secondary school pupils; in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, and they were to be entertained at afternoon tea by the Minister of Education (the Hon; P. Fraser) before leaving for the south tonight. They are to return to. Wellington on July 20.