Wainui Wins Debate From Otakiri Team In Y.F.C. Competition

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 80, 29 April 1949, Page 5

Wainui Wins Debate From Otakiri Team In Y.F.C. Competition

Placing forward clearer arguments and driving them home with greater force Wainui defeated Otakiri in the final debate of Eastern Bay of Plenty Young Farmers’ Clubs at Whakatane on Wednesday night. Wainui will now meet the winning club from the Western Bay of Plenty. The- subject discussed was “That the penalties for the more serious crimes in New Zealand should be increased.” Taking the affirmative, the Wainui speakers, M. Burke (leader), T. Shadbolt, R. Sax, put forward the points that criminals are beings of low inteligence and, like animals, would respond only to firmness. Penalties should be increased until they are adequate and

applied firmly. That did not seem to be the case at the present time judging by the increase of crime in New Zealand recently. While asking for the increase of the penalties the affirmative speakers added that they did not believe in punishment for punishment’s sake.

For the negative the Otakiri team, G. Murray (leader), J. Craddock and S. McLean, attacked the question from an entirely different angle. They asserted that crime must be stopped, not suppressed. Criminals were members of society and penalties should be of an understanding nature. The more serious the crime the more scientifically should the penalty be administered. Nothing would be gained by increasing the present penalties. Out of a possible of 300 points the adjudicator, Mr I. B. Gow, Edgecumbe, awarded Wainui 284 points and Otakiri 247. The debate was attended by a fair crowd.