The Hutt News. THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1928. THE GIFT OF SPEECH.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 16, 13 September 1928, Page 4

The Hutt News. THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1928. THE GIFT OF SPEECH.

The gift of speech: the ability to speak so that we express tersely and clearly our meaning in order that, our hearers may not be bored by frequent tieration of the same points nor left in doubt as to exactly what was meant: this power of clear and concise expression is indeed a gift bestowed upon, some to a marked degree and to all in at least some measure. What is being done here in our own town to bring out our young .men and young women so that when the occasion arises—as it does at times for all of vs —they may be in a position to make even a brief speech in keeping with the occasion- What is more painful than. to listen to a halting, ill-phrased and dis- | jointed speech! Possibly the only person other than the listeners who is conscious of the pain inflicted is the speaker himself. How few of our young men can get up at a wedding breakfast, a social gathering, a club meeting, or a smoke conceit and in a few well chosen, clearly enunciated words, say just the right thing. In most town, even those cf much smallerd size than Lower Hutt, there is a Debating Club, a Beading Circle, or a Literary Club where some study !is done along good lines, where books and the characters therein are discussed and where every opportunity is offered for young people to obtain practice in the art of public speaking. Why is it that no such society exists in the Hutt other than the class carried on under tlxe auspices of the Workers' Educational Association? We gladly acknowledge the good done there under an able tutorship —indeed we have on more than one occasion heard the results of this good work —but how many availed themselves of such an opportunity? What we greatly need here is a live Debating Society of a purely public character, not connected with, nor run as an adjunct to any institution, but one free from any denomyaational or society ties, where both sexes could meet and where free and frequent discussion in the form of debate woiikl provide the training necessary for this fine gift of speech. Is it not strange that in a borough of such size and imi portanee, where all forms of sport are so largely and successfully carried on, where societies of various kinds flourish, where pleasures abound, yet there is no society of a literary nature where cultural work could be done. There fire here men of culture and experience who would, we feel sure, be willing to guide and assist such a movement were it inaugurated, but who could scarcely be expected to do the spade work necessary to its inception. We are quite conscious of the fact that in a very few years the young men of to-day must take their place on our Council, our Biver Board, Electric Power Board, School Committees, etc., and yet nothing is being doie to train these young people for their future usefulness. We do not wish to infer that because a man is not a fluent and logical speaker he cannot be of service on local bodies, but what we do say is that men aspiring to such positions should train themselves to speak in such clear and fluent terms that no doubts of their meaning, -no misunderstandings and subsequent explanations, would arise and a valuable saving of time would be ;effected. The ffHutt News" is alive to 'all that makes for the betterment of the people and we strongly urge that some ! live public spirited man or men will take this matter up and make a Debating Society but one more channel through ■which may flow good to our town.