DUNEDIN D.L.F. LITERARY AND DEBATING CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2983, 17 May 1911, Page 89

DUNEDIN D.L.F. LITERARY AND DEBATING CLUB.

Motto: " Union is Strength." The usual weekly meeting of the club was held on Tuesday, May 2, in the clubtrooim. Seventeen member? in all w«re present, including Dot. Hairy took the chair. The evening was given over to a debate on a rather interesting subject, " Can Any Circumstances Justify a Departure! from the Truth?'" The leaders were Roxana fox tha affirmative, supported by Francis, Texas Jack, and Harry, and Adelina for the negative, supported by Thelma and Patience. From the attention given to the discussion, and from the number who took part in it, it was evident that all took a keen interest in. the matter in hand, while the evidence and instances (both pro and con) were, many of the'm, as original as they were varied, whilo one firm believer in Truthfulness unwittingly perpetrated an " Irishism." as it is often called She says, " There is a person I know that can't speak the truth, and though he may speak it sometimes, people never bolieve him." Several of the speakers on that side inquired, with the earnestness born of an honest search after truth, " What is gamed by an untiruth?" and others pointed out that ". . . a lie is sure, soonear or later, to be found out." '" A speaker for the other side urged that it was perfectly defensible to tell little " embroideries" on such occasions, for instance, as when one's memory fails one, or the little polite ones that we one and all tell so oftenr—" So glad to meet you," or " Regret pressing previous engagement." Altogether, the debate was a very good one, and when it came to a vote the verdict wens for the side who believe in occasional prevarication.

Those, who read this report will notice that I have avoided, as far as possible, calling a spade «. spade, unlike the writer whose lines run somehow this way: " There is pleasure in the wet, wet lay, When the poet's pad is blotting it; There is pleasure in the wet, wet clay, Wheel the artist's hand is potting it. But the pleasure felt in these Is as chalk to Cheddar cheese, When compared with_ a well-made LIE"; And goes on later to describe it as " A watertight, fireproof, angle-iron, sunkhinge, Time-lock, steel-faced lie." So much for that! The next meeting. (Miay 9) is Social Evening. May 16. —Selected readings. May 23.—Debate: " Is it Lakely that England (Britain 1 Will Sink Into the Decay Which Befel the Nations of Antiquity?" For this debate Lady Esler leads for the affirmative, and Happy Wag for the negative.

The usual weekly meeting of the club, held on Tuesday evening, May 9, in the clubrcom, took the form of a social meeting. Those present, 19 in all, spent a most enjoyable time, playing various card games, draughts, etc., and other forms of innocent frivolity. A hearty welcome was extended to Barney o''Hea, who was present during the evening. Before closing the meeting the secretary. on behalf of the chairman, Harry (who had unfortunately to leave early), reminded members that the subject for next meeting, May. 16, is " Readings.," to be selected at will by those taking part, either as papers sent by those not present in person, or read from their original source, whether bcok, magazine, or whatever else they may have appeared in. The subjects up to the end of June are as follow:

May 23.—Debate: " Is It Likely that England (Britain) Will Sink Into, the Decay Which Befel the Nations of Antiquity ?" May 30. —Open Meeting. June 6.—Debate: " Should the Press Be Totally Free?" June 13.—Social Meeting. June 20.—Debate: "Is Corporal Punishment Justifiable?"

June 27 —Open Meeting. Country members and others who care to contribute papers, either for the debates or for open meeting's, may rest assured that the club wall be really grateful for any assistance m that line, and also that we shall be only too pleased to acknowledge their receipt in this page. KOXANA, Hon. Secretary.