Foxton Literary and Debating Society.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3523, 18 May 1905, Page 2

Foxton Literary and Debating Society.

The above society met as usual on Monday, the subject for the evening being a debate on the question: “Is international arbitration a substitute for war ? ” There was a arge attendance of members, and the Eev. H. F. Wilson occupied the chair, The minutes of previous meetings ware first read and adopted, after which the meeting proceeded to consider the cases of certain members who had infringed the rule regarding non attendance. As a consequence the names of several members were struck off the roll. Messrs Cameron, Murray, and Frew were nominated as prospective members of the society. The subject for the evening was them begun, Messrs Moore and Barnard advocating that arbitration was a substitute for war The leaders brought forward good arguments in favour of their respective sides, but the question seemed to tie itself up into a knot extremdy difficult to unravel. Borne members seemed to think that the question was “Is arbitration more desirable than war ? ” while others thought it was “ Is arbitration likely to be substituted for war ? ” The chairman, however, ruled that each of these was not the proper question, but the question as to weather arbitration is a “ substitute for war at the present day,” was the one to be discussed. Accordingly the members debated on this question only. A vote was taken, which showed that the majority were of the opinion that arbitration was not a substitute for war at the present time.