UNIVERSITY DEBATING CONTEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 65

UNIVERSITY DEBATING CONTEST.

I On Monday evening, in the Early Settlers' I Hall, in the presence of a large audience, I the annual debating contest took place. Last year the challenge scroll (presented by Mr j J. W. Joynt, M.A., representative at Lon- : don of tho University of New Zealand) i was held by Auckland (C 11. Taylor and ■ M. 11. Oram), but as a result of last night's contest tho coveted scroll now passes to ! Victoria College. Tho subject of the debate was, " That Compulsory Military Training I is in the I3e-st Interests of tho Dominion," ! and the speakers were:—Victoria College, ' F. G. Ilall-Joncfc and G. VV. Mo rice; j Auckland, Cha.s. Marsack and E. Kavai nagh; Otago, 11. 11. Cornish and 0. C. j Mazengarb; Canterbury, It. N. Gray and ' F. 0. Spratt. In the first debato Victoria College took the affirmative side and Auckl land University College tho negative, and in the second debate Otago University sup- ! ported the affirmative, while Canterbury I College opposed it. Each speaker was I allowed 15 minutes. The judges were I Messrs G. M. Thomson, M.P., \V. J. Morrell, and 11. D. Bedford. Tho Chairman (Mr J. Allen, M.P.), in opening tho proceedings, read tho con- ! ditions of the debate and named the comi petitors and tho subject. The debato started shortly before 8 o'clock, and concluded a few minutes after 10 o'clock. Tho speakers were subjected ! to a considerable amount of interruption, I principally owing, it was said, to the j rowdiness of tho Canterbury College [ students. However, the chairman's firm ! attitude and the appeals of students from | other parts to be " sj>orts " had the dei sired effect on tho offenders, and the con- ' elusion of the debate took place in an j atmosphere that, for a university students' . meeting, was remarkably calm, i While the judges wore in an adjoining room considering their decision Miss Hay lev ] played as a violin solo a mazurka by Wieniawski, Miss White accompanying on | the piano. Tho music filled in a part of tho interval nicely, and the audience

showed their appreciation of it by a hearty round of applause. The decision of the judges, as announced by the Chairman, was as follows: Victoria College 1 Otago University 2 Canterbury College 3 Auckland University College ... 4 The Chairman added that there was very little difference between the number of points awarded to Victoria College and the number awarded to Otago University.— (Applause.)

The representatives of Victoria College received the scroll from the Chairman amid enthusiastic applause, and the meeting closed.