UNIVERSITY DEBATING SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11215, 10 September 1898, Page 8

UNIVERSITY DEBATING SOCIETY.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the above society was held in the chemistry classroom at the university. There was a good attendance of students and their friends. Mr J. Collie, M.A., occupied the chair. The subject for discussion was a debate: " Should the Colonies Contribute to tho Support of the Imperial Navy ? " The affirmative was advocated by Mr A. G. C. Miller, 8.A., who was ably seconded by Mr G. H. Thomson. Mr W. G. • Hiddell, M.A., led in the negative, and was supported by Mr J. Kinder. The opener, after ; dwelling on the grent benefits conferred by Great Britain on the colonies and by her great expenditure in lives and money for centuries, and on the fact that she had relinquished, ] with tho of the American colonies, the principle of taxing her colonies, enlarged on the defenceless state of the colonies and on their absolute dependence on tho mother country. He suggested that mere gratitude itself should induce tho colonies to contribute towards that department of defence on which : their very existence as free States depended. !Mr Riddell emphasised the fact that the | colonies formed a very important asset to Great 1 Britain, and one which the mother country was bound to protect and defend, seeing that "she had so much capital, etc., invested in them. They were necessary for her as a field for her surplus population and capital. After a spirited debate, in which Miss Handle, Mr M'Fhee, Mr W. L. Moore, Mr W. M. Thomj son, Mr Erskinc, and Mr L. Thompson took i part, tho chairman declared, on the vote, that ! the affirmatives were in tho majority. The | usual compliments to the chair brought a very ! enjoyable evening to a close. Before the de-, I bate Miss Agatha Adams contributed a piano- , forte solo and Miss Black a song, while Mr W. 1 Brugh gave a very spirited recitation. Each of these items was received by the audience with much acceptance.