DEBATING CONTEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20925, 15 July 1931, Page 13

DEBATING CONTEST.

WIN FOR AUCKLAND TEAM. LEADER'S PERSONAL TRIUMPH. AMERICANS* FIRST DEFEAT. A victory for the Auckland University College team, and a personal triumph for its leader, Mr. K. H. Melvin, resulted from the debating contest in the Town Hall last evening between the team and that representing the University of Oregon. The visiting American students had won the six previous debates in which they had engaged in New Zealand, and Auckland's win was popularly received, particularly when it was mentioned thai the'three judges had reached a unanimous decision. The visiting debaters wore quick to acknowledge in conversation after the contest that no speaker approaching Mr. Melvin for talent had been encountered in the previous debates. One judge marked his speech at 90 per cent, perfect, and said that never in a long experience had he esteemed a debater so highly. Tho fact that Mr. Melvin so hold tho stage accordingly had the effect of dwarfing the efforts of the other debaters. It was pointed out on behalf of the judges when the result was announced that the visitors had had the more difficult task in opposing the motion, namely: "That the nations of tho world should adopt a policy of complete disarmament, except for such forces as are necessary for police protection," particularly in view of present-day feeling on that subject. It would be generally agreed, however, that both sides had mado animated contributions to the subject, and there ■ was reason for pride ip the fact that the verdict was in favour of Auckland by 27 points. Contrast in Styles. The two debating teams presented & contrast in styles. The Aucklander3 were disposed to present general lines of argument, with diversions here and there " in elaboration of special points. The role adopted by the Americans was rather to seek to ridicule the affirmative arguments by giving special application to general statements. The Americans were also, on the whole, the more rapid speakers, and indulged in : conversational speech and colloquial expression to JT greater degree. Although the subject did not lend itself to much humorous treatment, both sides contrived at intervals to raise a laugh by an adroit twist ot speech or a satirical analogy. The visiting debaters were Messrs. Robert T. Miller, Roger A. Pfaff and David G. Wilson. Auckland was represented by Messrs. Melvin, L. Miller and M. G. Sullivan. _ The Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison; presided over a large attendance. The judges were Canon W. Fancourt, Mr. J. W. Shaw and Mr. E. H. Northcroft. Auckland Leader's Arguments. '' It was contended by Sir. Melvin that the existing policy of competitive arnwf merits was leading the nations to rain, and; that without bringing' them any significant security. What strange distemper was afflicting tho world, he asked, when so lunatic a policy was tolerated by civilisation ? The present policy of national armaments, he contended, rendered future wars inevitable. So long as those measures; of disarmament, which should be the first* result of the pact for the renunciation of_ war, were delayed 5 so long would national; assurances of peaceful policies be largely ! valueless. Far from being the dream.of visionaries, he was convinced that iri : . ternational disarmament was as practic-" able as it was desirable. - While agreeing to some extent with Mr.Melvin's submissions, Mr. Wilson, the opening speaker for the visitors, joined issue with him on the question of what constituted adequate police protection. Mr. Wilson embarked on a fanciful ex-, cursion, depicting the leading statesmen of the world in conference to discuss dis,-. armament-, and at last discovering .that every nation already had just sufficient armaments to serve its needs for policing trade routes and guarding frontiers. Mx\ Wilson contended that all the talk about disarmament was a waste of words,' because it was obvious that the world wa3 disarmed as far as wars of aggression were concerned. It was just as logical to debate the question that Auckland should be a seaport or that .Scofsmen should be introduced into Dunedin.- - Mutual Trust Essential. ' The second Auckland speaker, -Mr. Millar, said he would refuse to allow any nation to retain what might be the nucleus Of an arrpament race. .Any police force retained should be under international direction. Reliance must be transferred from armaments to arbitration. That reasoning gave Mr. Miller, the second Oregon speaker, the opportunity to point out that the League of Nations was the only existing agency which could handle an international police force, and that meant, he said, that such a force would be compelled to support "the heinous Versailles Treaty, which imposed arbitrary and unjust boundaries in Europe and loaded Germany with a staggering reparation debt." In .the. use of such an international force it would be impossible to distinguish between local and international problems, and endless complications would arise. It was claimed by Mr. Sullivan, Auckland's concluding speaker, that the way toward complete disarmament had been well prepared. The Hague had suggested a reduction of armaments, Washington had effected it, the Briand-Kellogg pact had outlawed war, and it now remained for the aspiration of complete dis-'. armament through demobilisation to bo achieved. But that could only be achieved by a venture in mutual trust, without which the world would not yet have emerged from the Stone Age. Even Police Porce Opposed. A laugh was raised, by Mr. Pfaff, the last of the visitors to speak, when he said that to disarm and yet retain a. police force was equivalent to the notions of the Middle West farmer who claimed that he had Deen a teetotaller for 40 years "except for a, little sniff in the morning, an eye-opener about noon, and a good stiff one at. night." Mr. Pfaff based his arguments, not on an assertion that there should not be complete disarmament, but oil the contention that, to be complete, not even a police force should .be retained. The way to peace was through unqualified disarmament, lie said, and the right of appeal to the International Court of Justice. As long as an armed force was retained, even for policing purposes, so long would the martial spirit be engendered. In replying, Mr. Melvin suggested that, the tail had been allowed to wag the dog by the manner in which Mr. Pfaff had used the qualifying phrase iii the subject of tho debate. "The most. efficient police force in the world goes unarmed at all times," he said. "Who ever heard of a London policeman drawing a revolver ?" After the result had been announced, both teams were applauded, and a vote of thanks was accorded tho judges. A debate on the subject of Imperialism will v . be held in the University .College this* evening, when the Oregon students will bo opposed by another Auckland team.xg;-