DEBATING SOCIETIES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 557, 12 July 1909, Page 2

DEBATING SOCIETIES.

The first round of the fifth annual debafc lrig .tournament, hold under tho auspices of tho Wellington Provincial Literary and Dobating Sociohes Union, will .take place thif ovonmg at 8 o'clock. A record number ot' ten entries has been received for Ihe touma»' ment, and as tho various societies are represented by capable debaters, 6omo intcrestuig contests are looked for. Several alterations which should tend to improvement have this year been mado m tho rules governing the contests. All debates in each round will take place on the same night, and will be on the same subject, and, while hitherto it has boon the rule for a eocioty to withdraw from tho contests when once beaten, no society will howi* letire until it has suffered two defeats. la tho second round winning societies will compete with each other, and losing societies with each other. This will continue until c i' one society is left in the contest' which 1 not lost a debate, and that society will be c'oemed to have won tho tournament. The subject for to-night's debate is,, "That it is neoessary for 1 Great Biitain to maintain tho two-Power naval 6tandaid." Tho following societies will take pait in tho tournament, tho first-named taking the affirmative in each case, and, with the exception of tho debato between tho Victoria College' and St.-John's Societies, which will bo held in St. John's Schoelroom, the debates will tako place in tho rooms of the fnstmentionod ocicty.—St. Hilda's (Island Bar) vi Y.M.C.A., Vivian Sheet (Bapti6t) v. Taranaki Stieet Weslcynn, Victoria College v.St. John'sji Brooklyn (Baptist) v. Wellington Catholio Club. Messrs. J. W. Black, A. L. Hcrdman; lIP., Granullo Hunt, and J? M. B. Fisher, M P., will act as judges of the respective debates The con tret which was to nave taken place between the Karon and St. Anno's Societies has been won by tho former society by default. The weekly meeting of the Wesleyan Literary and Debating Society was held on Thjuisday evening 111 tho Young Men's Classioom, Mi. Y. L Buigess presiding. Mr. J. H Helliwell dchveiod a lecture on Charlotte Bionte. An intoiesting account Was given of the carlj stinggles and literary disappointments of tho> author. The poor lecephon nccoidcd to lie* first work of notion, "Tho Professor," was, however, more than compensated by the immediate popularity of "Jane Eyre." Tho chief , characteristics of Miss Brontes stylo wore its animation and vigour. Her knowledge end realistic portrayal of the fominine character wero distinguishing features of her works. A hearty vote of thanks was carried by acclamation. Next Thursday evening die society will give the bleach of piomiso trial scene from the "Pickwick Papers. debato took plrico on Friday ©voning at tho Y.M.C.A. Kooins,; on the.subject, 'That Militaiy Training should be made Compulsory to all Alnlos o\or eighteen jcais of Age. Mr. R. Brown occupied tho chair, Mr. A. C. Budd,' In a speech of fifteen mintttrs, opened in the nffirltutvvc. Mr. W, E. Dickinson then opposed the suggestion, and; urged : as: an alternative that more encouragement should bo Riven to alio clubs Soveial othoi speakers followed. On a voto boing taken, the motion was carried by a small majority. Next Friday tho society will have an evening on "Selections from favourite, authors."