DEBATING SOCIETY MEETS

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1930, Page 3

DEBATING SOCIETY MEETS

OPENING OF SECOND SESSION.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR YEAR.

"That the age of romance is dead” is the proposition selected for the opening debate of the New Plymouth Debating Society on May 23. The first annual meeting of the society was held in the Victoria League room last night. ‘Mr. H. W. Insull presided over a good attendance. Mr. J. H. Slieat urged that means should be taken to make it more. widely known that this was not a society of lawyers. That idea had been abroad, he said. There were a number of young men in other walks of life who would like to join, and the society would welcome them.

Mr. R. J. Brokenshire suggested present members should be on the look-out for prospective members. The larger the society the better, lie said. The report and balance-sheet were adopted on the motion of Mr. Brokenshire, seconded by Mr. A. C. Fookes. The latter referred appreciatively to the untiring work of the secretary, Mr. G. Macallan, who had been largely instrumental in forming the society. The following officers were elected: — President, Mr. R. H. Quilliain; vice-presi-dent, Mr. 11. W. Insull; treasurer, Mr. R. J. Brokenshire; secretary, Mr. G. Macallan; committee, Messrs. C. Deem, A. C. Fookes, S. G. H. Hoben, K. Staunton and C. H. Strombom; auditor, Mr. R. G. Eowell. With the object of discovering whether a change in the fortnightly meeting would enable a larger number to attend the debates, it was suggested the day should be some other day than Friday. Votes were taken on proposals to hold the debates on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. It was decided to retain Friday as the meeting night. The annual subscription was again fixed at ss. It was agreed that the committee should draw up the syllabus of the debates. A number of suggestions for titles were made, and members were asked to send additional suggestions to the secretary. Among the proposals made were fixtures for a mock court and for a debate with an outside society. The Rev. Clarence Eaton and Messrs. M. Geddes, H. Garner, A. W. Lander, Al. Goldsbury, R. J. Pick well, A. W. Scott, C. Linwood were elected members of the society.