Y.M.C.A. DEBATING CLUB.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 139, 14 May 1934, Page 2

Y.M.C.A. DEBATING CLUB.

The first meeting of the YLM.C.A. Debating Club’s season was held on Friday evening, when the Bunnythorpe Debating Club members were visitors. There we re over 30 present. Mr M. Williamson, chairman of the Y.M.C.A. Debating Club, was in the chair. The subject was “That Great Britain would be justified in imposing a quota on New Zealand dairy produce,’ the local club taking the affirmative and Bunnytliorpe the negative. The teams were:—Y.M.C.A. : Messrs G. A. Brown, Hagan and Haddon; Bunnytliorpe, Messrs McKenzie and Jackson and Miss Parnell. Mr Brown, leading for the Y.M.C.A. team, dealt with the advantage to both countries of a planned economy. The introduction of machinery in the colonies and the advent of the Great War had. rendered Cobden’s dream of free trade impossible, and a new balance of industries must be obtained, farming being developed in England and manufacturing in New Zealand. Mr McKenzie, leader for the negative, declared that the necessity for a quota bad not been definitely proved. It was not desired in Britain, and was contrary to the idea of Imperial justice and equity. Actually, over-production in primary producing countries and a glut on the English market did not exist. The world’s troubles were monetary and trade troubles, and trade barriers, of which the quota was the worst. Mr Hagan, for Y.M.C.A., declared that price levels show no great demand for dairy produce on the English market. Mr Jackson, for Bunnytliorpe, stated that the English Press was against the quota system, and that it would be unfair to New Zealand as a British Dominion. Mr Hadden dealt with the badly balanced position of production in New Zealand, and Miss Parnell declared that if Great Britain inflicted a. quota on any of the colonies, it would be degrading to them. The leaders then replied, and Mr A. D. Campbell, who acted as judge, delivered his verdict after a public discussion. The Bunnythorpe team won by three points. Supper concluded a very enjoyable evening.