JOYNT SCROLL DEBATE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 31, 5 August 1940, Page 5

JOYNT SCROLL DEBATE

WIN FOR VICTORIA

UNIVERSITY CONTEST

By only two marks, 169 to 167, the Victoria University College debating team beat Otago University in the annual contest for the Joynt Scroll, held on Saturday in the Training College Hall. Canterbury University College was well back in third place with 150. marks, Auckland University College and Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln, tied for fourth place, and Massey Agricultural College was last. Of the individual debaters Mr. P. J. Sheehan (Victoria) was placed first, Mr. H. L. Gibson (Otago) second, and Mr. K. W. 'Orchiston (Lincoln) - third.

The judges were Dr. C. E. Eeeby, Mr. W. J. Sim, K.C., and Mr. F. H. Bass. Mr. N. G. Foley presided.

Commenting on the speakers, Dr. Beeby said that Mr. Sheehan's gestures were particularly good; they were smooth and easy, he modulated his voice well without over-modulation, and he used pauses to good effect. His reply was just a trifle disappointing. Mr. Gibson had certain stereotyped gestures, but he overcame an initial difficulty and got the audience with him. There was a dramatic element in his speech and a genuine sincerity. He spoke without notes, but had obviously not learned a speech by heart, and in some cases his fighting power was better than that of Mr. Sheehan. Mr. Orchiston had a very good fighting beginning, but there was not enough variation, ; and he tended to fight all the way, even when there was nothing to fight about. He had abundant energy and improved very strongly towards the end. His reply was a little stereotyped.

Both Mr. Sim and Mr. Bass agreed that the standard of debating had been consistently high, and that some of the competitors had the makings of excellent public speakers. Mr. Sim said that competitors generally had lost marks for matter, a failing which was no doubt due to the appalling difficulty of the subjects chosen.

The contest consisted of three debates. In the afternoon Canterbury (Messrs. J. S. Rumbold and B. J. Drake) took the affirmative against Lincoln (Messrs. K. W. Orchiston and J. A. Pollock) on the motion "That a declining birth-rate is to be deplored"; in the eyening Massey (Messrs. D. M. Smith and K. D. Bamford) took the affirmative against Victoria (Messrs. P. J. Sheehan and H. G. Bowyer) on "That party government has failed," and Otago (Messrs. H. L. Gibson and E. T. Dick) took the affirmative on the motion "That the United States of America should take a permanent place in European politics" against Auckland (Mr. B. Smith and Miss Dorothea Morrell).

Each speaker was allowed twelve minutes, and the leaders of the affirmative and negative in each debate were allowed.five minutes each in which to reply. -