COLLEGE DEBATING SOCIETY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1849, 8 September 1913, Page 8

COLLEGE DEBATING SOCIETY.

r A large audience assembled in the 6 Qollego Hall on Saturday evening, when the Victoria College Debating Soa ciety met for the eighth debate of the 11 year. Mr. A. E. Caddick, M:A., presided." Sir. G. G. Watson, 8.A., sec--11 onded by Miss M. L. Nicholls, moved ® "That the Commonwealth Government 0 is pursuing tho proper policy in cxcludr ing. Asiatics from the Northern Territory." Messrs. F. E. M'Kenzie, 8.A., and P. B. Broad, LL.B., opposed. The movers contended that the welfare of tho human race, the progress of European civilisation, and tha etai- bility of the Britisli Empire rest upon g a policy of exclusion of Asiatics from ■- a country -inhabited by a white people. .. A process of assimilation would result [J in moral, physical and social degrada- [. tion. The opposers claimed, however, e that to have a large tract of country r sparsely populated was an economic [. waste, especially when, there were thouse ands of people re.ady and willing to de--0 vote their industry to its development, i) Moreover, tho Asiatic immigrant would be confined to tho Northern Territory, ~ and would not be allowed to intermix with tho present population of Austral ~ iia. The motion was lost by a narrow , margin. ' The judgo, Mr. Y. B. Willis, LL.B., expressed his appreciation at having j! listened to an instructive dobate. A 1 study of the important questions of tho day should form , part of the, currie culum of our University. Ho placed the first live speakers in the following order: —Mr. A. B. Sievwriglit, Miss Niclir oils. Messrs. Broad, Watson, ( and ° M'Kenzie.