Palmerston North Debating Society.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8071, 23 August 1905, Page 8

Palmerston North Debating Society.

Despite the unpromising state of the weather, there was a very good attendance at the meeting of the Palmerston North Young Men's Debating Society at the Fire Brigade" Hall last night, when a discussion took place; on the question "Should the Totalisator be Abolished?" Mr J. C. Young opened in the affirmative and he was supported by Messrs R. Billens, W. H. Maclean, G. Reed and R. Fraser, who affirmed that gambling in itself was ethically wrong, that the totalisator'was one of the crudest forms of gambling, that the totalisator was introduced to reduce gambling but had not done so, since the amount of money passed through the machine was increasing annually and the number of bookmakers had also increased, and that the machine by making gambling I respectable had made it possible for thousands of people to .speculate who would not do so under the old conditions. Figures and statistics were quoted in support of these statements, and the opinions of judges, magistrates, and public men were mentioned to show the effect of the gambling passion on a country. Mr T. Eodgers, replied in tbe negative and ho was followed by Messrs H. Fletcher, P. Larcomb, C. Brown and J. Whittaker. . They . argued that the speculative element was a part of human nature and no restriction or legislation could suppress it, that if speculation was not allowed in an open and legitimate way it would find vent in other undesirable directions, that the totalisatbr was the fairest method of betting in the world and that in countries where there was no totalisator gambling went on to -a far greater extent and on a greater scale, and that if the system was being abused by the issue of totalisator permits to many small clubs this was no argument against the machine. Having heard the various arguments, Mr P. E. Baldwin, who acted as judge," complimented the speakers on the capital speeches made. .■; Speaking with some knowledge of debating societies in other places, ac ventured to say that a team could be chosen from the speakers who would hold their own with credit in any debating society in the colony He' had awarded marks, allowing a maximum of 50 for each speaker, with the result that the affirmative side's aggregate was 205 and the negative 200. The highest individual score was by Mr Fletcher (44), who therefore received a, u-ophy presented to the society by Mr T. Eodgers. The result was received with applause and Mr Baldwin was thanked by the chairman for his attendance and interest. The meeting then adjourned.