ST. BATHANS LITERARY, DE BATING AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume 24, Issue 1270, 31 March 1894, Page 3

ST. BATHANS LITERARY, DE BATING AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY.

• . ° This society threxhed out its first debate on the evening of Monday, the 19th inst., in Nolan's Hall, St. Bathans, before a .1-irge and. enthusiastic audience. The subject chosen .was ".Prohibition," which being the burning question of the day gave'greater interest to the debate.. The pr*nide"ht, Mr W. Pyje, was votedto the chair, and in a neat and pithy speech' explained" the business of the evening-. ,_ Mr John M'Combe then led off in the affirmative with a \ igorous. and well delivered .speech, his remarks being applauded by. the.audience. Mr T. H. Thompson followed in the negative and diversified his arguments wittusome humorous touches, which were evidently .appreciated; Mr Cavell then took up the cpdjels in support of Mb Thotnpso-vand wielded them in a very effective style, after which Mr C. Armour rose and. asked some pertinent questions of the t'rohibftiO'Uta. ,Mr R. Cowan then got up and made a conciliatory speech,' and after he had finished Mr John .Eagle deliverrd a. lengthy history of the prohibition tnovcuirnt and arguvd in its favour. No' other shakers coming forward, Mr Thompson sum i-d up against I'rohiliition, Mr M'Combe following with hit concluding arguments in its favour, and closing the debate. . ..„.•.,.. yA scen-t Jtallot waj then' taken, the result beine:— For prohibition, 41, against, 30. Owing to.rh'e lateness of the hour (11-40). the vote was" smaller than what It should have been.

The society takrs the opportunity of asking i-he indulgence of thoje »n*o were present for their nonadhen n<f to the rules of debate, as they were lat»- io irtarting a-id th- subject chosen, was one Uutt iifcessluted a great deal of nrgnm'ent. la f.tture debates, however, the time of closing will be not later tHan 10.SO p.m.

A co'rrespoxdext write* : The' St. B.tt:un)B Literary, Debating, and Dramatio Society held ts 6rst debate, " Prohibition M living the subject, on Monday cypning, thr 19th innt. The credit of haling initiated the formation of the society, and of currying it on to its present Mi'ccemtol sum is entirely <luc to the efforts of Mr.J.' n. Thompson, laic of Brilliant;, Q.ti-n»btnl. i(s energetic secretary, and w : e all \vi.»h"t» tl'tiuk him.