MANAWATU EVENING STANDARD POHANGINA GAZETTE. Circulation, 3,000 Copies Daily WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1904. PURLIC SPEAKING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7925, 5 October 1904, Page 4

MANAWATU EVENING STANDARD POHANGINA GAZETTE. Circulation, 3,000 Copies Daily WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1904. PURLIC SPEAKING.

The two local debating societies are performing excellent work in the direction of training young men the art of public speaking, and one has only to attend the meetings to be thoroughly convinced of the fact. The value of these institutions, it is regrettable to admit, is not appreciated to the extent desired, otherwise the membership would be larger, and then- sphere of usefulness considerably extended. Numbers of young people consider these societies fit subjects for foolish jokes, but of course it is only the ignorant and foolish who act in tliis way. Many men, when called upon to deliver a short speech in public, fail to express themselves intelligibly, and it is on occasions like these that the experience gained by members x>f debating societies is put' to the best use. Among the leading men in Australasia no one is better qualified to speak on this subject than the Right Hon. G. H. Reid (Premier of the Australian Commonwealth), who graduated from a debating society, and is therefore intimately acquaintec. with the working of these institutions. Mr Reid has a lively recollection of his first essay in academical discussion, when he utterly broke down. As it is just the inability to survive those first shocks that prevents so many from finding out whether they are fitted for public speakers, his advice to, a youth who has reached that stage, realised it, and suffered it, is not.to take part in a debate unless knowing exactly what be is going to say and not to attempt to say too much. He should read up the subject, carefully select with what judgment he possesses a few points, write them out, and learn them. Another point emphasised is that it is absolutely fatal to rise to speak trusting to the inspiration of the moment, for inspiration comes only with experience. Young speakers are recommended to take every opportunity of hearing good plays and good preachers. The pulpit in Mr Reid's opinion, is absolutely the best educational influence, available, the tone being invariably lofty, earnest and sincere — the best inspirations a young speaker can have. If he has in him the essential qualities, inspiration will come,' not with conventional, but with the higher subjects—patriotism, public duty and humanity. Mr Reid says the second stage in the career of an aspirant to public speaking is.where the selection and grouping of ideas take place in the mind only without adventitious aid. At that stage also comes imagination—a fine quality 'in a public speaker—which helps him to illuminate and"-illustrate his theme. The happy

blending of facts and imagination;is, Mr Reid declares, to his mind " the art of the ideal public speaker." That preparation is necessary to become a public speakeris a recognised fact, V consequently the societies which i materially assist the public in gaming proficiency should be encouraged iii then- labours.