THE UNIVERSITY DEBATING SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2145, 11 May 1914, Page 6

THE UNIVERSITY DEBATING SOCIETY

DEPORTED LABOUR LEADERS. Tho second ordinary debate of the Victoria University College Debating Society was held on Saturday evening in the Social Hall, Mr. P. B. Broad, LL.B., being in the chair. The subject for debate was "That the Deportation of the. Labour Leaders' in the Rocont Strike by the South African Government was Justified." _ The movers contended that the position was so serious that the welfare of tho South African Union demanded a drastic method of coping with tho lawlessness and disorder which arose. The Government had adopted tho only com-mon-sense .way. Their attitude was strong and statesmanlike, and worthy of tho trust reposed upon them by the peonlo of South Africa. The opposers endeavoured to show that the circumstances did not warrant the extreme step of deportation. Tho .South African Government had no right to throw the worst class of their population upon England, there to stir up' ill-feeling against a self-governing portion of tho Empire. " Tho law should have Been allowed to take its course, and the men should have' Been punished in South Africa itself, as was the ease in New Zealand. Further,, the South African Government had violated a fundamental principle of the British Constitution in refusing a fair trial to those who were alleged to Bβ guilty of criminal acts. Such conduct could not bo-justified. ..The judge, Mr. D..S. Smith, LL.M., decided as to the relative merits of the various speeches delivered, and made the following award: Messrs. H. A. Cunningham, G. G. G. AVatsbn, A. B. Sievwright. and Schmidt (equal), P. J. Byrne, and L. A. Rogers.,