ENTRANCING WOMAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 225, 22 September 1928, Page 10

ENTRANCING WOMAN.

HUMOROUS STUDENTS'

DEBATE.

EMERGENCE FROM THE SOME

AUDIENCE EST GOOD SPIRITS.

University students found themselves in a singularly happy position when they staged a debate last night on the question of woman and her "emergence from the home." The crowded audience

was in no mood for serious argument, and a streak of humour in the speeches was helped out by the witty rejoinders of the student hearers in the rear of the hall. The rival teams represented Sydney and Auckland University Colleges, the visitors affirming "That the emergence of woman from the home is "a depressing feature of modern life."

Describing woman as "that delightful and entrancing subject under discussion," Mr. N. C. L. Nelson, of Sydney, was on good terms with his audience from the start. His attempts to trace

the emancipation of woman to the war and post-war years were gently mocking, and he aroused a burst of laughter by announcing that he would be prepared to accept the suggestion tnat woman merely wanted to get closer to . man. The only respect in waich an Englishman's house resembled a castle at the present day, he submitted, was that ; a search had to be made for the children. Mr. F. W. Simpson, of Auckland, provoked friendly banter by his nattering references to present-day woman. After referring to Eve as the first woman who emerged from the home and tempted Adam to bite the apple, he asked, "Will you name some womain who did not emerge from the home?" A Voice: Charley's aunt. (Loud laughter.) Continuing, he said that Hinemoa had emerged from her whare to have A Voice: A swim. (Renewed laughter.) Another Voice: Give us the figures. Appeals for "a little economics" brought a further burst of merriment. Mr. H. G. Goodsall kept the crowd in excellent humour, and his definition of a home as a place where a woman changed her clothes was much appreciated. He said that Australia was faced with the problem of defence, and could not be regarded as safe unless she doubled her population within five years. "That might be a lot of kid," he added amid laughter. His punning powers in reference to sewing and cooking, too, were neatly used, concluding with the statement that woman's crowning glory was her heir. Mr. J. N. Wilson made pretence of disappointment that the affirmative had not produced "figures," and referred to screen stars as types of womanhood. His speech inculded reference to literature, art and commercial life. The concluding speakers of each team Mr. W. S. Sheldon and Mr. A. K. Turner, found their opportunities for humour somewhat restricted in comparison with the leaders in the debate, because of the demands upon their impromptu faculties, and the arguments were broueht to a close in a more serious vein, with criticism, of the modern woman on the part of the affirmative and defence by the negative.