VICTORIA COLLEGE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10956, 19 July 1921, Page 6

VICTORIA COLLEGE

DEBATING SOCIETY. Last Saturday evening the Victoria University College Debating Society debated the motion : "That the Peace Treaty is' economically impossible and politically unjustifiable.” The motion was moved by Mr Kitelling, seconded by Mr Sheat, and opposed by Mr McCormick, seconded by Mr fin*, tell. Mr Kitching held that the Allies had said they were fighting a war to end waT. He outlined the history of the Armistice and the Peace Conference, and maintained that the Versailles Treaty would only cause more wars. > Ip the Armistice agreement Yhe A Dice had laid V down the conditions on which the Peace Treaty was to rest, but they bad not kept to that agreement. Toe reparation ’clauses were far too stringent, and the control of German waterways by the Allies was totally without precedent in the history of Europe. Mr McCormick opposed the idea that the hand of friendship should immediately he extended to Germany. Ha ,pointed out that the lion tamer took care that the lion’s 'claws were clipped before he attempted bo tame ■ it- He admitted that the Peace Treaty vras not perfect, but maintained that it had to be drawn up hurriedly to enable Europe to return to normal -conditions. • After a number of other speakers had expressed, their views cm the subject, the motion was submitted to the meeting and declared carried by a «™ll majority. The jndge. Mr A. R. Atkinson, placed the beet five speakers in the following order:—Messrs Sheet. Heigh. MoCor. mick, Meltzer, and Kitching.