THORNBURY

Southland Times, Issue 24108, 23 April 1940, Page 3

THORNBURY

DEBATING SOCIETY SYLLABUS DRAWN UP AT ANNUAL MEETING > The annual meeting of the Debating ’ and W.E.A. Society was held in the s Thornbury hall. Representatives from 1 Thornbury, Wright’s Bush, Flint’s Bush • and Otahuti were present and the chair was taken by the president, Mr Buchan. t The report and balance-sheet (the 1 credit being 3/6), were adopted. 1 The election of office-bearers for the ; 1940 session resulted as follows:—Pat- ■ ron, the Hon. Adam Hamilton; president, Mr lan Fraser; secretary, Miss ■ Nessie Fallow; vice-presidents, Mes- ! dames George Carter, T. H. Anderson and Messrs J. B. McLean, R. Cameron and George Carmichael; committee, Mesdames Buchan and G. Galt (Waimatuku), Miss Hall and Messrs Leo Leith (Otahuti), John and D. Fallow and K. McKenzie. Many expressions of appreciation of the attendance and generous helpful assistance given to the 1939 session by Mr S. G. August and other members of the Invercargill ’7.E.A. were endorsed and it was unanimously decided to accept their co-operation for the coming session. The syllabus was drawn up and the secretary instructed to have it printed as well as a letter of appeal for support, copies of both to be posted to all local citizens and others who might be interested. It was decided to have three interclub debates if arrangements could be made to hold them; to hold a question box meeting; to carry out a mock mayoral election on the same basis as in 1939 when Mrs Buchan was elected mayoress and Mr K. McKenzie mayor, and to give every second evening to W.E.A. activities and to conclude the session by a mock wedding and breakfast. The subscription decided upon was 4/- for men and 2/6 for women.

In view of the recent appeal by the United Kingdom Government for carrier pigeons for war purposes, it is interesting to recall that during the war of 1914-18 more than 500 pigeons were handed over to the then Minister of Defence, the Hon. J. Allen, by New Z'ealand fanciers. The Wellington Homing Pigeon Society has recently forwarded an offer of 300 pigeons to the Defence Department