UNIVERSITY DEBATERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 230, 27 August 1938, Page 11

UNIVERSITY DEBATERS

JOYNT SCROLL CONTEST. OTAGO TEAM WINNERS. Eqr the first time in the history of Massey College, the inter-university college debating contest for the Joynt Scroll, presented by a former Registrar of the University of New Zealand, was held at Massey College yesterday. Three debates were held on the subject: “That religion throughout the ages has been an obstacle to progress.” The scroll, previously held by Victoria University College, was won by Otago University College team by a margin of five points over the holders. The following were the points allotted by the judges (Messrs M. H. Oram, J. Murray and Rev. J. Hubbard) : Otago University.—M. G. O’Callaghan : Matter (maximum 40) 33, method, (maximum 25) 20, manner (maximum 35) 25; total, 78. S. W. P. Mirams: Matter 30, method 15, manner 20; total, 08. Treatment by both speakers (maximum 50) (35; reply (maximum 25) 17. Grand total, 198. Victoria University College A.—J. B. Aimers : Matter 32, method 20, manner 22; total, 74. N. A. Morrison : Matter 31, method 19, manner 17; total, 67. Treatment by both speakers 35, reply 17. Grand total, 193. ,

Auckland University College.—-Miss D. Eowler: Matter 26, method 14, manner 22 ; total, 62. Mr P. Day : Matter 28, method 16, manner 20; total, 64. Treatment by both speakers 30, reply 18. Grand total, 174. Victoria Univorsity College B.—Mr A. L. McCulloch: Matter 26, method 14, manner 21; total, 61. Mr C. A. Myers : Matter 30, method 15, manner 18; total, 63. Treatment by both speakers, 25,, reply 12. Grand total, 161.

Canterbury University College.—Mr R. Hurst: Matter 22, method 16, manner 16; total, 54'. Mr J. S. Rumbold : Matter 29, method 19, manner 17; total, 65. Treatment by both speakers 25, reply 13. Grand total, 157. Massey Agricultural College.—Mr D.M. Smith: Matter 28, method 17 manner 22; total, 67. Mr R. D. Bamford: Matter 20, method 12, manner 18; total, 50. Treatment by both speakers, 20; reply 14. Grand total, 151. HIGH STANDARD SET. In announcing the decisions of the judges, Mr Oram said the day was a red-letter one in the history of Palmerston North, for the citizens should now realise that Massey College took its full place with the other university colleges of the Dominion. In making their awards, the judges had felt themselves justified in demanding a very high standard, a standard of scholarship, search for facts, ability to speak eloquently and clearly and a forceful driving home of those facts. “We regret to say that the standard we bad hoped for was not altogether achieved,” said Mr Oram. “We feel that the vast quantity of matter available has not been availed of by any of the speakers. Wo were struck by the lack of any real eloquence—any outstanding speech. Each gave evidence of careful preparation and delivery, but we.were looking for that 6park of eloquence wo were entitled to have from University speakers, but that was Jacking. We see, on one side, the force and combination of-ideas represented by religion. We look down through the ages of history, see Man in his early stages, and see him today_, visualising the progress he has made. We ask ourselves: Has that progress been made in spite of religion or has religion not been an obstacle, or rather, has it assisted in that progress ? What a vast subject! We feel the subject has scarcely been done justice.” In commenting that the judges had disagreed among themselves as to .the merits of individual speakers, Mr Oram said that that was all to the good, for with three different views tnere was more likely to be given a verdict which more approximated that of the audience.

The chair was occupied by Mr A. P. Blair, president of the New Zealand University Students’ Association. In the late afternoon the Auckland and Victoria B tesuns were opposed. For the affirmative, Miss Fowler (Auckland) urged that the religions of the Fast had always retarded progress and that the religion of the West had not lagged behind in coercion of thought, in stifling the eftorte of those _wlio sought truth, stripped of its trappings. Leader for the negative, Mr McCullough (Victoria B) advanced the proposal that religion was quite apart from the Church for the purposes of debate. It was the whole basis of morality and was a bulwark against wrong. Mr Day, for the affirmative, touched on political, international and economic progress, postulating that all had been retarded by religion. As the second speaker for the negative, Mr Myers 6aid the world would be better off with less scientific “progress” and more spiritual progress. It was better for cave-men to fight with clubs than with gas and bombs. Was it progress to equip man with such weapons ? Real progress was essentially happiness—which religion had fostered. In the first debate of the evening session Massey College and Otago University College were' opposed. Mr Smith (Massey College), in moving the motion, examined many forms of religion and said that so many things were committed in the name of religion that surely it had boon an obstacle to progress. As leader for the negative, Mr O’Callaghan laid the obstacle to progress not at the feet of religion, but of Man’s nature. • The speaker then proceeded to examine the physical, mental and moral progress of man. For the affirmative, Mr Bamford said that fear, ignorance and terror had held progress in subjection. Only Pne religion could represent the truth, yet all had been dogmatic. Mr Mi rams dealt with the influence of religion on the nation, the community and the individual. What greater influence could be imagined than one which taught that man had a purpose, that ho had an ideal to be striven for? he asked. The final debate was between teams from Victoria University College (A team) and Canterbury University College. The latter took the affirmative, and Mr Hurst, the first speaker, addressed himself to giving wide definitions of “religion” and “progress” and showed wherein the subject might be approached. For the negative, Mr Miners advanced the contention that religion had given order and some sense of security. Principles of 1 oncstv, purity and love for justice had been common to all religions and bad contributed to the progress of civilisation. Mr Rumbold, in seconding the affirmative, traced the development of religion from superstition and proceeded to advance lus argument that reli •don had been used liv the governing classes as an instrument to keep tne masses of the people in subjection. Mr Morrison (Victoria College) contended that the /churches had been used by governing factions. The debate mentioned "religion” and not ‘-churches. One of the greatest spheres in which religion had been felt was that of education. In art, agriculture and the urging of peace, religion had not ic tarded progress.