STUDENT DEBATERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21868, 2 August 1934, Page 12

STUDENT DEBATERS

WAR DEBT PROBLEM INTER-UNIVERSITY CONTEST AMERICAN VISITOR WINS The debating representative of tho University of Washington, Mr. Robert Burns, won his contest with two of the best Auckland University College speakers, Mr. K. H. Melvin and Mr. Robert Thornley, before an audience of over 1000 people in the Town Hall last night.

Owing to the illness of his colleague, Mr. Lvle M. Spencer, whom he left in Sydney. Mr. Burns had to carry the whole burden of the negative side in a debate upon the proposition, "That tho United States of America should agree to the cancellation of the inter-Alliod war debts." He was awarded a win by a majority of three judges, Professor R. M. Algie, Mr. L. Phillips and Mr. E. Aldridge.

Tho Mayor. Mr. G. W. Hutchison, presided, and among those upon tli<» platform were the president of Auckland University College, Mr. Kenneth Mackenzie, and the American Consul, Mr. Walter F. Boyle.

Mr. Melvin and Mr. Thornley, for the affirmative, put forward four main arguments, as follows: —(1) That tho war debts to America were incurred under conditions which rendered pressure for their complete payment unmoral; (2) that it was impossible to make payment in any form that would be acceptable; (3) that thtiir collection would be economically detrimental to the creditor country; (4) that their obliteration was essential to the economic recovery of America and the world. Mr. Burns, in a series of three speeches, condemned cancellation as a mere shifting of the debt burden from tho European to the American taxpayer, and advocated revision by mutual consent, the parties to share the burden equally. Under this plan, America was to redftce the nominal amount of the debt by half in consideration of the world-wido fall in prices, and the debtor countries were to pay in raw materials and other non-com-petitive or duty-free goods, or in American securities now held abroad. He argued that the debtors were both able and willing to pay something, and that America could make it feasible for them to pay.

The audience heartily and impartially applauded the points made by both sides. Professor Algie, on behalf of tho judges, said he was the minority among them. He considered that Mr. Burns' second speech and Mr. Melvin's final speech in reply were masterpieces.