UNIVERSITY DEBATING SOCIETY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1127, 15 May 1911, Page 5

UNIVERSITY DEBATING SOCIETY.

Members of .the Victoria College Debating Society held their third debate for the year on Saturday evening, Mr. M. H. Oram, M.A., being in the chair. The motion under discussion was: "That the courses provided, and.the methods in vogue, at this college tend to narrow the student's outlook." This was moved by Messrs. A. Fair, LL.B., and T. Holmden, LL.B., and opposed by Messrs. G. H. Robertson and D. E. 'C. Mackay. The mover contended that the student's time for academic work was so limited, and the couree so ( extensive, that the only result of a year's cram was mental indigestion. He could not possibly grasp the broader aspects of what he was studying. ' For the opposers it was asserted that the mental training received at the university had a broadening influence on the student's mind. If he did not learn many subjects, he learned a few very thoroughly. Ho could grasp underlying principles, where the uneducated man would be fogged by a mass of detail. ■ Most of those who spoke—fifteen in number—opposed the motion, but tho audience showed 'itself to.be very evenly divided 6n 'tho question. Professor Laby, who judged the debate, placed the best speakers in the .following order for the purposes of tho union prize:—Mr. A. Fair, LL.B., 1; Mr. F. Hall-Jones. 2; Mr. W. MacEldowney, 3; Messrs. Morris, M.A., Rutherford, and Jackson, 4. The judge made some very interesting remarks on the general aspect of the question, and gave a brief criticism of the contention of the individual speakers. A hearty vote of thanks was aocorded to him' by members. The.next debate will be held in a fortnight's time, the.motion being: "That the New Zealand Conciliation and Arbitration system is a failure."