SHOULD WOMEN BE ENCOURAGED TO DEBATE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 53, 25 November 1937, Page 11

SHOULD WOMEN BE ENCOURAGED TO DEBATE

Most decidedly yesl It develops the mind and helps the speaker to think clearly and concisely (says an Australian writer). It develops the art of correct expression. Women are sometimes accused of "beating about the bush," of evading the issue, of not sticking to the point. Debati'ng compels speakers to concentrate upon the subject matter and to focus npon"tlie point of view wliich they. wish to elucidate. Then, again, debating necessarily widens the knowledge and broadens the outlook of its votaries. Someumes they are called upon to defend or to oppose a question of which they previously had little knowledge, and woe betide a team of debaters that is not fully prepared with the pros and cons of its case. Speakers must be prepared, not only to present their own case, but must be equally prepared and ready to perceive the weakness of their opponents' arguments, and t° break dovn, or, at least, to weaken, the effect of any logical points which the other team may kring forward. The subjects upon which they are called to debate vary from time-pay- [ ment to the guardianship of infants ; from patriotism to the shortening of

the working treek; from monopolios to grounds for div.orce. Thus thq ' knowledge gained in preparing for a debate is of a verv wide and interesting nature. . . . Speakers are compelled to read in order to become conversant with the subject set down for discussion, and to soek information from the recognised leaders of thought in the community, so as to be able to present their case in an orderly manner.