HOW TO DEBATE

Southland Times, Issue 22728, 2 November 1935, Page 11

HOW TO DEBATE

This is the speech-making season, but debating belongs to the cold weather. There is very little time for debate when an election is in progress, and everyone is busily engaged in saving the country by dubious methods; but debates must be prepared and the wise man looks ahead. If he does look ahead* he will be fortunate if his eye alights on “The Art Of Debating,” by J. B. Baggaridge and B. Masel, published as one of the National Handbooks. This is the second edition, an indication that it has already found it way into the hands of gratified users. After preliminary advice about speaking and organization, the editors proceed to give examples in the form of summarized arguments, affirmative and negative, covering forty subjects—a good standby for debating teams. In this edition the editors have added a useful bibliography, though this could have been more balanced. In quite a number of cases the book titles offered as aids are all on one side. For instance, the League of Nations debate should have more than League handbooks as guides, and there have been replies to Beverley Nichols’s hysteria even if no one has yet disposed of Sir Norman Angell. The debater must be on one of two sides, and the bibliography should help him in either. Interesting notes on broadcast debates, Impromptu Speaking and the Oregon debates have been added. “The Art Of Debating.” (Messrs Robertson and Mullens, Ltd., Melbourne.)