DEBATING TOURNAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 633, 9 October 1909, Page 6

DEBATING TOURNAMENT.

A CLOSE; FINISH. ~ , ■ . The , fifth annual • tournament of the Dobat- ■ ing Societies' Union was oonchided last evening, when the- final debate, between th« YJf.C.a. and Karori teams, was held at the ■ Y.M.C.A. Rooms in the presenoe of a fairly good attendance or interested critics. Mr. B. ; Brown presided, and Mr. A. E. Atkinson wa«" judge. ■■ ■. ... Mr- Dickijison : (YJii.C.A.) moved"That, ia the best interests of. Great Britain, it is d®. sirable' to abolish, the House of Lords." He opened in good, style, arranging- his pointo logically, and Epcakmg with commendable , oleamess and vigour. ■■■~: _ Mr. Smythe (Karori) led off, in defence of th« 'Lords, speaking with clear delivery, and showmg skilful; analysis in, traversing: the points made by the previous, speaker. u _A vigorous debate followed, and at tho coni elusion the judge summed up in favour of T.M.C.A., awarding that team 279-points, ,aa against 274 for the'Karon-team—a'very 'cloe® finish.- In the course of his remarks, Mr : Atkinson said that both teams had shown excellent arrangement of their, subject mat. ' ter, and ho had, therefore, awarded equal points, in this respect. Though, some! of the 1 - speakers, shorn ,rather too much- dovotion' to the archaeological aspects of the' case, it was a. very good debate, quite,-the best; ho had ' heard this year. He awarded : pointsas follow ■-— , • : , _ Y.M.CX-Mr. Wickinson, 80 j Mr. Nioklin, 93; ilr. Holmes, 8S;- arrangement' 1 of • matter. 20; total, 279.' • . > ■< v .■■ ■ . r Karori,—Mr.' Smythe, 77; Mr. . Hart, 83V Mr.' Caugnley,. 9-1; arrangement,' 20;' total, 271 ' '