HIBERNIAN DEBATING CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 21098, 10 May 1932, Page 8

HIBERNIAN DEBATING CLUB

The syllabus items of the Hibernian Debating Club for April proved very successful. Members met for the first time in the club’s new rooms in Manse street. Mr A. Gillick presided, and the meeting was graced by tho presence of His Lordsliip Bishop Whyte,'accompanied by the Rev. Father Hanrahan. The president gave a comprehensive report of the recent conference and competitions held at Christchurch in connection with the Federated Catholic Clubs and Societies of New Zealand, concluding with appreciation of the excellent manner in which the gathering had been organised and carried out. He thanked the people of Christchurch for the hospitality extended to the visiting delegates, and congratulated the Dunedin representatives on their success in the literary contests. A debate on the subject ‘ That War is Inevitable ’ followed, the affirmative ; being taken by Messrs R. A. King (leader), I. Pringle, and B. A. Quelch, and the negative by Messrs W. M‘Aleve,v, J. J. Lauren, and J. C. Mowat. Mr F. R. Thompson acted as judge, and gave his decision in favour of tho affirmative side by a narrow margin. Mr Thompson was thanked for his services, and the bishop congratulated the club on the way in which it had started off the season’s activities. It gave him great pleasure to listen to Mr Gillick’s graphic account of the recent happenings in Christchurch, and he was proud of the success achieved by tho club’s team. The debate that evening had been very pleasing, and showed that those engaged had gone to considerable pains to study the subject. A week later a large attendance assembled for the debate between representati. j of the club and a team from tho Christian Brothers’ High School. The subject was ‘ That the League of Nations by Its Efforts in Maintaining Peace Has Justified Its Existence.' Tho affirmative was taken by Messrs G. D. O’Connell (leader), G. F. Hall, and W. M'Alevcy (Hibernian Club), and Messrs R. ,1. Wilkins (leader), J. B. Cull, and A. Manion (Christian Brothers’ High School) took the negative. A well-sustained discussion ensued, the school team excelling themselves in the arguments adduced. Mr A, G. Neill, who was the adjudicator, commented upon tho individual speakers, and complimented them on their handling of a very difficult subject. Rev. lire. O’Connor, principal of tho Christian Brothers’ High School, acknowledged Mr Neill’s kind remarks in reference to the school, and eulogised his summing up as being most constructive ! and instructive.