D.Y.M.C.A. PARLIAMENTARY DEBATING CLUB.

Evening Star, Issue 6762, 29 November 1884, Page 1

D.Y.M.C.A. PARLIAMENTARY DEBATING CLUB.

The prorogation took place last evening, when tae Governor of the Club (MrT. Dick) delivered the following addess : It affords me great pleasure to be able to congratulate you on the successful completion of this, the first session of your Club, aud to thank you for the amount of care, energy, and intelligence which yon have evinced in considering the questions brought before you. The advisability of inaugurating this Society for the discussion of political, social, and municipal subjects on parliamentary lines has been amply proved by the success which has attended your meetings; and the interest exhibited, not only within, bat outside the Club membership, promises well for yonr future prosperity. . .-, Notwithstanding the limited time at your'disposal, the number of questions which yon have riispmwfl has been considerable. The subject of Government aid to charitable institutions, which engaged your attention early in the session, is a most important one, and one which, as the population of cur colony increases, will no doubt further press itself upon your consideration. The wisdom of the action you have taken in resolving that the Town Belt of the City of Cftnedin should be nsed solely as a reserve for the purposes of recreation and the formation of pleasure grounds is evident. I feel sure that your timely intervention in this behalf will greatly assist in advancing the material and social interests of the community. The revision of the licensing laws is a work which justified the mature consideration yon bestowed' upon it, and although circumstances prevented the passing of the measure which was laid before yon, the discussion will probably do good. The problem of how best to ensure settlement on the Crown lands of the Colony is one which demands anxious consideration. I thank yon for the care and discrimination brought to bear on the measure presented to you relating thereto. ; Several important amendments of the laws relating to married persons have been discussed, and the principles involved in them approved. It has been decided that the system of giving large grants of land to aid private companies in the construction of railways is injurious. I have no doubt that this decision will aid greatly in conserving the interests of the community. A resolution has also been passed confirming the desirability of giving greater prominence to physical education in the public schools of the Colony. It has been found necessary to allow several very important measures to stand over for'the present, as I io not feel justified in asking yon to still further prolong a session which has already exceeded in duration the original intention cf the Council. In relieving you from your duties for the present, I would express the hope that in the coming time such peace and prosperity may be yours as shall recuperate and prepare you for the business of life that lies before you. I now declare this Parliamentary Debating Club prorogued until Friday, the 13th day ot February, 1885. ■ - A social reunion in connection with the close of the session vras afterwards held in the Coffee. Palace. Mr T. Dick presided, supported on bis right by Mr M. Cohen (Speaker) and Mr N. Y. A. Wales (Premier) of the Dunedin Parliamentary Union. Mr J. S. Mollison (Premier) and MrW.E. Sessions (Speaker) of the D.Y.MjG.A. Debating Club acted as croupiers. The Chairman said that an apology had been received from the Rev. A. North (one of the vice-presidents of the D.Y.M.C.A.) 'As the affair was conducted on strictly temperance principles, he asked the company to "honor the various toasts as sentiments." In replying for "The Parliament of New Zealand," Mr Fulton, M.H.R., said that the representatives could not possibly please all their constituents, and it wonld be foolish of any of them to endeavor to do so. As the only member of Parliament present, he must say a few words as to many misrepresentations existing with regard to the House. There was a common idea prevalent that the ninety odd members entered into politics for their own particular ends, and that they were specially anxious for the sweets of office, the money that it would bring them, and the patronage that office affords. He could 6ay fairly with some few years' experience—and the chairman and Mr Wales could bear him out—that the New Zealand Parliament consisted of as honorable and straightforward men as were to be found anywhere in the Colony.—(Hear.) Another idea abroad, one perhaps that had been encouraged by articles in certain newspapers lately, was that the representatives were not a very sober let of gentlemen. With regard to that he believed that under the trying circumstances under which hon. members were frequently placed, it wonld be hard to get ninety-five more sober persons. It was certainly true that a few wonld be better if they took a great deal less, but it had been well said that these could be numbered on the fingers of one's hand. (Laughter and applause.) The sneaker also made reference to the rule of the Club limiting the duration of speeches to ten minutes, and characterised it as a very desirable principle to uphold. If members of the Parliament at Wellington would follow out this principle a little more, and speak to the point instead of wandering about to all points of the compass, there would not be such a large amount of rubbish talked — talked merely for the purpesa of members saying when they came before their constituents that they had filled so many pages of "Hansard." Anattempthad recently been made to abolish " Hansard," and a very considerable number voted for it—(Mr Gohxn : "Very few.))—A considerable number, he repeated about twenty. The idea of this Club limiting members to speeches of ten minutes was a good one for two reasons —it induced them to think correctly and closely, and also to express themselves in as few words as possible. At present many of the members went to Wellington like so many dumb dogs, scarcely able, for the first session, to open their mouths for fear of disgracing themselves. Such members would benefit greatly by the training that was afforded by a parliamentary debating club. He had to submit for their acceptance the health of " The Governor of the Club," He did so with peculiar satisfaction, because he had had many years' association with {hat gentleman, and had felt for him the very highest esteem and respect.—(Cheers.) The Chairman thanked the company for the manner in which they-had received the toast, and the members of the Parliamentary Debating Club for having appointed him as their Governor. Governors of Parliaments must be at the top of the tree whether elected or nominated—which he was he could not say.—(Laughter.) He| spoke of the excellent scholarship afforded, hy the Club in enabling members to gain that knowledge which would be useful to any of them when they were returned to the Parliament which assembled annually in Wellington. In conclusion, he proposed "The Speaker of the Debating Club," a man thoroughly trained for bis work, and capable of controlling the many restless spirits under his eharge.—(Laughter). Mr Sessions thanked the members of the Club for the uniform courtesy .extended to him, and for the readiness with which they bad invariably upheld the ruling of the chair. As to the utility of these Unions, he had long held the idea that such represents-. tive gatherings could be made very useful. They created an interest in social and political topics, acquainted members of the usages of parliamentary practice, and of the forms necessary to be used at public meetings. He thought that too much party fighting was to be deprecated.—(Hear.) In closing his remarks, he proposed—"The Leaders of the House"—the Hon, the Premier (Mr Mollison), and the leader of the Opposition (Mr R. N. Adams). Mr Mollison said that the past sesrion had been regarded by members as a preliminary canter only, and for that reason both sides had been afforded an opportunity of showing their policy.—Mr Adams wb* glad to learn that members were improving in the knowledge of the tactics of the House, the object for which they joined the Sociciy. Mr J. G. Fhaser proposed—"The Dunedin Parliamentary Union "—the Debating Society's big brother.—(Laughtorr) Tk« Union had given them a Premier, and to match him a leader of the Opposition also, and for the assistance afforded-them they

felt that they were to some extent uudcr the Union's protection. With the toast he coup'ed the names of Messrs M. Cohen (Speaker) and Wales (Premier). Mr Cokes said that it afforded him great satisfaction and pleasure to be present that evening, bacause it gave him, as the mouthpiece of the Duncdin Union, an opportunity O r saying that the movement originated by the Union had obtaiued euch a firm footing in the Colony. The movement which started parliamentary debating clubs throughout New Zealand was entered into with considerable trepidation by a few gentlemen in Dunedin —amongst whom was Mr Jago, who was present ia the room—but he was pleased to i-ay that their efforts had been attended with the greatest success. The speaker proceeded to trace the history of parliamentary unions. The first Union was inaugurated in Liverpool some ten years ago, and there "•ere now 145 similar unions in the Old * V-ntry. These had a total membership of close on 30,000—the largest having 900 members, and the least successful 150. Such organisations had naturally a good deal of political weight in the country, and he cited instances in which recommendations from these societies had been accepted by the Home Government. At a seaport in England one organisation thought that certain alterations should be made in the Merchant Shipping Bill, then before the Imperial Parliament, and the president of the Board of Trade (Mr Chamberlain) did not consider it beneath his dignity to acknowledge the appropriateness of the suggestion, and to adopt it. Another member of the Imperial Cabinet (Sir Charles Dilke) was a member of a London parliamentary union, and was frequently at their meetings. Further proof of the usefulness of these organisations was famished by the fact that they had played no unimportant part in the recent agitation in England in connection with t'ae Franchise Bill, and their importance in that respect had been fully recognised by leaders of the Liberal party at Home. The Parliamentary Unions Conference at the Crystal Palace, London, in the early part of this year had been the means of drawing considerable attention to this movement. It was presided over by an ex-member of the House of Commons, and attended by 200 delegates from all parts of the kingdom. Much practical work was done by that Conference. It appointed a central body to whom was referred the determination of all matters affecting unions, the making of uniform regulations, and the decision of disputed or difficult questions of procedure. Some excellent suggestions were made during the debates, and what struck him as being worthy of mention that night was the almost unanimous opinion that unions should not give too much attention to the discussion of Bills. Matters of supreme importance should be introduced by resolution, and where time was of moment the resolution should be debated with expedition in order that a decision might be come to on it without delay. The danger of dealing with such matters by'means of Bills was that principles were too often discussed. He regarded these unions as political educators. Members, if they wished to secure influence in them, must read attentively, and form their judgments after mature deliberation on the best attainable evidence. And in this connection he was of opinion their friend Mr Fulton could render them very material assistance. If parliamentary unions were placed on the same footing as mechanics'institutes, etc., in regard to the supply of ' Hansard' and parliamentary papers members of the unions would be able to post themselves well up in the political questions of the hour. The extraordinary spread of these organisations in New Zealand showed what keen politicians we were; and if they were rightly directed and energetically managed there v* as no reason why these unions should not, in the immediate future, exercise a most important influence in moulding a healthy public opinion. Mr Wales scarcely thought the application of the term " big brother " to the Dunedin Union was a correct one. Although that organisation was a month or so older than this Debating Club, it had not more members nor better debating power; while the younger organisation certainly excelled in the matter of the wind-up The other toasts were: "The Board of Management of the D.Y.M.C.A.," replied to ly Mr A. S. Patersos ; " The Press," by Mr Jago; and "The Ladies," by Mr Baowsisc