DEBATING SOCIETY

Southland Times, Issue 20225, 9 July 1927, Page 12

DEBATING SOCIETY

BAPTIST BODY MEETS. The Baptist Literary and Debating Society has been in operation for some months now and during that period some very successful meetings have been held. At the last fortnightly meeting held on Wednesday there was quite a good attendance, the subject for debate being:—“That the scheme of assisting immigrants to New Zealand be continued.” The leader for the affirmative, Mr J. Crozier, was supported by Mr L. Robinson and B. Hansen, whilst Mr A. Clifford supported by Mr C. Shroeder and W. Dobie upheld the negative. The leader of the affirmative in opening the debate emphasised the fact of our duty to the Empire in assisting Great Britain wherever possible and in the scheme of immigration there was a means by which this end might be reached. Continuing he went on to speak of the blame attached in some quarters to the immigrants for the great amount of unemployment, but this difficulty was wholly due to bad management. In America a country was seen which is entirely populated by immigrants, and which is to-day one of the leading nations of the world. Other colonies are doing their share in respect to helping Great Britain in conpection with their problem of over population and so it is up to New Zealand to fall in line. If New Zealand wants to keep up with the other nations of the world it is most desirous that she should have a supply of immigrants coming to the country to build up the population. The negative leader in supporting his case stated that the £1,250,000 spent in bringing immigrants out to NeW Zealand could have been well spent within the country even if only to find employment for the many here without work. The class of people that were coming out as farm labourers w’ere in nine cases out of ten specialists in their line and after being on a farm for a week or two found out the unsuitability of their employment and drifted back to the towns, thus swelling the ranks of the unemployed who walk the streets of our cities. With regard to the reference to America being built up of immigrants, that might be so; but then the class of people had to be taken into account. The people who were coming out under the scheme obtaining in New Zealand were of the poorer class and so the country found itself in the position of having more labour than capital could absorb. In respect to helping Great Britain, it was very fine to talk, but here again the old proverb came true: “Charity begins at home.” Looking at it in this light it will readily be seen that first New 7 Zealand should see there is ample employment for the colonials before dumping hundreds more out here for whom no employment can be found. Each leader was ably backed up by his tw’O supporters and summing up a very good attack was made by each leader, not without a touch of humour.

The result by vote revealed an overwhelming majority for the affirmative, but on the judge’s decision the issue was reversed. The negative w’ere declared winners by 243 marks to 222. At the conclusion a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the judge (Mr Macpherson) for the able manner in which he carried out his duties.