DEBATING SOCIETIES UNION

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 795, 19 April 1910, Page 3

DEBATING SOCIETIES UNION

The annual meeting of the Wellington Provincial Literary and Debating Socie- , *«*' Uaion was held last night, in .tho Y.M.C.A. Rooms, Mr. J. M..£ Hott presiding. • : The fifth annual report stated that the executive have pleasure in reporting that the union's fifth season passed off successfully. During the-year three societies, ,viz.-the.Weeleyan (Taranaki Street), St. 'Anne's Catholic Club, and Masterlon Y.M.C.A. became affiliated, to the union. There are now fourteen societies in the union. Ten societies took part .in the annual debating tournament. The final between Y.M.O.A. and Karori was won by the latter, society, the debate being held in the Y.M.C.A. Assembly Hall. Great iuberest was shown in the tournar meat, though it is doubtful whether the altered rules .were an improvement on the method of conducting the contest in P9?t years, and it will probably be found necessary, to again revise the rules. .■ The first short-paper tournament held by the Union'did not prove so successful as was 1 hop&djbut as tne innovation was scarcely understood by societies, a.better, result will, , no doubt, be experienced in the coming year.' .Six societies "entered for the tournament. . The final was won by the Taranaki Street. (Wesleyan) Society from St.. Anne's Catholic Club by default la the oratorical competition, which took place, in the Y.M.C.A. Booms on Friday, October 22, seven societies were represented. Mr. M. H. Oram; representing '.'the Karori Society, was the- successful wmpet'itor, with Mr. A.. Be'oentou, Mas'te'rton Y.M.C.A., second. During the year the Wellington members, of, Parliament, past and, present, donated . a challenge shield to- the "union. The shield is 10. bo. known as the:-'[Parliamentary Challenge Shield," and is to be held by the society winning the debating tournament —the nauie- of tho society, being engraved on a plate, each one of which also Dears the name of "one of the donors. The shield may not be won outright. The union is greatly indebted to Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, M.P., who devoted a great deal of energy towards securing fhis trophy for the union, 'and as'the" shield .will become increasingly valuable it should be much coveted by societies.' It is regretted that it was not possible during the year to secure: a'team to debate at Wanganui ; with a team representing the Wanganui Union. 'The executive "desires to express its appreciation to past and present members of Parliament for the great interest taken by them in the union, to Messrs. P. M. Bi Fisher, -M.P., A. L. Herdman, M.P.; F. E. Baume, M.P., J. W. Joynt, M.A., A. E. Atkinson, Charles [Wilson, J. ,W. Blaok, J. H. Helliwell, and D. M. Findlay for the able manner in which they judged the various contests; to'the Y.M.C.A., for the use of their rooms for meetings and contests; and to the local daily press for valued assistance.. ...

Officers were elected as follow:—Patron," Sir Kobert Stout; vice-president, Mr. H. N. Holmes; hon. "treasurer, Mr. M. O'Kane; executive,. Messrs.. E: .Cumming, A. J. Humphreys, and E. Kennedy.