Apiti Club Wins Debating Shield

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 57, Issue 6, 20 December 1938, Page 552

Apiti Club Wins Debating Shield

THE final of the debating contest among the seventeen Young Farmers’ Clubs 'of the Manawatu district, held in Palmerston North on 20th October, was won by the Apiti Club. The subject was “ That the Development of Primary Industries is of Greater Benefit to New Zealand than the Development of Secondary Industries.” Apiti was represented by H. G. Viles (leader), A. Viles, and A. Cowan, and J. Woodley, (leader), D. Lynch, and J. Hight spoke for the Fitzherbert Club. Mr. H. J. Lancaster,. president of the Young Farmers’ Clubs, presided., . Mr. W. J. Viles, of Apiti, and father of two of the members of the successful team, who had donated the shield for competition, presented the trophy to the winners.

Social Aspects.

Opening the debate, Mr. H. G. Viles dealt with the social aspect from the economic point of view. It became largely a question, he said, of city life versus country life. Health was better in the country, and lack of outlook in the city caused the predomination of the herd instinct, as also did the lack of recreation facilities. City life was an affair of many acquaintances but few friends, whereas the reverse was the case in rural life. In addition, the country developed a leader who was prepared to listen to all sides of a question, while town life bred a leader of the mob type. Farming was not only a business but was also a way of life, and family life would be adversely affected if New Zealand were to give preference to secondary industries. Machinery was the symbol of secondary industry, said Mr. Woodley, speaking for the negative. After detailing the various natural resources of New Zealand in metals and industrial power, he said that one of the greatest problems was unemployment, and that would be solved more quickly by secondary industrial develop- ' ment. Lack of population, too, was the cause of some alarm, but . secondary

industry would give rise to a beneficial policy of immigration; and the newcomers would be provided with certain work on their arrival. It was necessary to become more selfcontained in the event of war. A blockade, for example, of New Zealand would make it difficult for the country to carry on with its present industrial resources. The primary industries were

highly developed and yet provided work for only 500,000 people. Examining the market situation, Mr. Woodley claimed that farming development would not lead to increased prosperity. Basis of Trade. Mr. A. Viles said that exchange was the basis of all trade. New Zealand, with her fertile soil and mild climate, was

particularly suited to primary industries, and interlocked with these were a number of secondary industries processing primary products. Other secondary industries were carried on only under a vicious system of protection. Woolpacks and woollen-mills were cited as examples. Economically they could make a better deal by exporting primary products in return for manufactured goods. Mr. Lynch contended that the British markets were not a bottomless pit, and that if this were ignored the future would be seriously endangered. Secondary industries had to be developed, he said, thus allowing an immigration . policy which would give security against invasion. Manufacturing would assure the people of employment, and New Zealand could make articles to satisfy all its requirements. They had successfully assembled cars, but they must build them themselves. . The same could be said of

road-making machinery. Where there was employment, there was prosperity. Resuming the case for the affirmative, Mr. Cowan said that admittedly secondary industries provided more work, but that was not everything. More labour for less result produced a wrong situation. Self-sufficiency was only the product of war-scared nations like Italy. A tariff amounted only to a Government bounty unless it could, in the not too remote future, become self-supporting, but many of New. Zealand’s industries had no such prospect. , - Mr. Hight claimed that New Zealand could manufacture. goods equal to those imported. New Zealand’s boots, woolpacks, &c., were quite up to the standard of foreign articles. A paper mill was being built, and flax would assist this industry. The result of the licensing poll showed that the breweries would have to be enlarged.

The leaders for both sides replied briefly. Close Margin between Teams. Remarking that there was a margin of only 5 points between the sides, the judge, Mr. A. C. Buist, said that the teamwork of - the affirmative had ' been the deciding factor. Both sides had done remarkably well, and he congratulated them on their fine showing. ’ Mr. E. J. Fawcett, Acting DirectorGeneral of Agriculture, congratulated the speakers on their efforts in the contest, and pointed out the value of debating as a means of improving methods of expression. He was pleased to see .the progress being made in all sections of the Young Farmers’ Clubs. Following supper, dancing was enjoyed by the club members and friends who had attended the debate.