CATHOLIC CLUBS

Grey River Argus, 15 March 1940, Page 12

CATHOLIC CLUBS

South Island Conference AT GREYMOUTH NEXT WEEK. The first Conference and Competitions of the South Island Federated Catholic Clubs and Societies of New Zealand to be held in Greymouth since 1935, will open at the St. Columba Hall, Alexander Street, on Easter Saturday, concluding on the following Monday evening. Nine Clubs will take part in the competitions which comprise debating, elocution, oratory, impromptu speaking, tennis and billiards.

The subject for the debate is “That commerce is of greater importance than culture,” and the judge will be Mr. L. B. Galbraith, of Greymouth. Three debates with teams of two aside, will take place on Saturday afternoon, and two in the evening. The draw is as follows, the affirmative side being mentioned first in each case —First debate: St. Mary’s (Christchurch) v. St. Mary’s (Hokitika); second debate: Dunedin Hibernian Social and Debating Club v. Marist Bros.’ Old Boys’ Association, Christchurch; third debate: St. Columba. Greymouth, No. 2 team, v. St. Patrick’s, Oamaru; fourth debate: St. Columba, Greymouth, No. 1 team, v. St. Bede’s College Old Boys’ Association, Christchurch; fifth debate: Ashburton Catholic Club v. Marist Brothers’ Old Bovs’ Association, Invercargill. The debate between St. Bede’s and St. Columba No. 1 team, will be broadcast from Station 3ZR at 8 p.m. On Easter Sunday, a General Communion of all visitors and members of the St. Columba Club will take place at St. Patrick’s Church, and the elocutionary and oratorical competitions will take place during the day. The judges will be Mr. R. T. Bush (elocution) and Mr. W. Meldrum (oratory). The impromptu speech competition will take place on Easter Sunday evening, the judge being Mr. W. Douglas Taylor. The competitions will conclude with the religious questions’ examination by the Chaplain (Very Rev. Father J. Long. Adm.), on Monday morning. In addition to the competitions, the annual conference will be held on Easter Saturday and Sunday. A civic reception will be accorded the visitors at the St. Columba Hall on Easter Saturday at 10 a.m. Rt. Rev. Dr. M. J. Brodie, Bishop of Christchurch, will arrive in Greymouth on Easter Monday and will be the principal speaker at the banquet in the evening, when he will present the Hayward Shield and diplomas to the winners.

About 80 competitors and delegates will visit Greymouth for the conference. The majority will be billeted in Catholic homes, and members of the St. Columba Club are at present making efforts to secure billets for all requiring them. Owing to the exceptionally large number requiring billeting, it is hoped that those who are able will assist the committee in providing accommodation so that the success of the gathering may be assured.