ORATORY CONTEST

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 July 1946, Page 9

ORATORY CONTEST

PLUNKET MEDAL WON BY MR. K. B. O’BRIEN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 28. Mr K B. O’Brien won the fortieth annual Plunket Medal contest for oratory, conducted by the Victoria University College Debating Society at the Town Hall Concert Chamber. Mr O’Brien’s subject was “Alfred Dreyfus.” He gave an interesting 3nd vivid account of the case and trial which he described as the greatest judicial crime in history. Mr J. R. McCreary, who spoke on “Harry Holland” was placed second, and Miss A. Cooch (“Lawrence of Arabia”) third. Other speakers were Messrs D. M. Saker (Pere Joseph ), AV T Hume (“Henri Dunant”), F. D O’Flynn (“President Roosevelt”), r‘ G. Collins (“Marshal Tito”), and Miss K. Kelly (“Michael Collins”). The judges were Mrs G. H. Ross, M.P., the Very Rev Father B. F. Blake, S.M., and Mr H. R. C. Wild Father Blake, who announced the judges’ decision, said that they had been impressed by the high standard of preparation and the amount of effort that had been put into the speeches. Mr O’Brien’s mother, then Miss L. Conaghan, was formerly s a successful competitor in the elocutionary sections on the West Coast,