Feilding Debating Society.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 240, 15 April 1896, Page 2

Feilding Debating Society.

The annual meeting of members of the Feilding Debating Society was held in the Borough Council Chambers last evening. Fifteen gentlemen and several ladies were present. Dr Sorley was voted to the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting I having been read and confirmed, the secretary, Mr S. Andrew, read the bal-ance-sheet, which showed a credit balanco of £2 16s Gd for last year's working ; the receipts having been £12 10s Id, and the expenditure £9 18s 7d. The last session extended from June 4th to October 9th, lSOtf, during which period niue meetings wore held and one public debate, with Falmerston, the judges deciding in favor of Feilding. A letter was read from the Town Clerk, stating the terms on which the chamber was granted to the society, viz. : a charge of 2s 6d per meeting, to be paid to cover expense of lighting, etc., I and the arrangement to continue at the pleasure of the Council. The following new members were elected :— Messrs J. W. Bramwell, T. West, T. Inues, M. Diamond, Jas. Wood, J. Greenwood, W. Franklin-Browne, G. Johnston. The officers for the ensuing session were elected as follows : — President, Dr Sorley ; vice-presidents, Messrs Bey. A. Innes Jones, F. Y. Lethbridge, J. H. Stevens ; secretary and treasurer, Mr J. Coombe ; committee, Messrs T. Watson. J. Cobbe, T. West. Notice of motion was given by Mr Stevens that rule 13 be amended to allow four members to be appointed on the committee. Resolved, That the question of forming this society into a Parliamentary Union be adjourned to some future date. Resolved, That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the retiring president, vice-presidents, and secretary for their services during the past year. The question "Winch exercises the greater influence — the Statesman or Poet? " was thcjj discussed, Mr S. Andrew opeuiii^ iv favor of the statesman and Mr T. Watson led iv the negative, supporting the poet. After Messrs (ireeuwood, Wood, and Stevens had spoken, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Oobbe, That this debate bo adjourned to this clay fortnight, April 28. The meeting then adjourned. Mr Cobbc, having moved the adjournment, will open the debate at the next meeting.