VARSITY DEBATE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10610, 8 June 1920, Page 6

VARSITY DEBATE

THE EVOLUTION OP WOMAN. A motion "that woman has evolved further than man/’ formed tho subject of a debate at Victoria University College on Saturday evening. Miss A. Harle, in moving the motion, contended that history showed that nations had rested on force*, and that tho war was the culmination of their efforts bo follow out Darwinian principles. Force, united with reason, had been the old and the wrong lino of- evolution—tho new must bo towards the social ideal, and it was in that direction that woman excelled. Her greatest power was in her finely developed emotions, and in tho future she would have opportunity to utilise that groat force that was hers. Miss N. Norman supported the motion, declaring that woman was nearer tho goal to which all humanity was striving. Man had misdirected tho forces ho controlled, and woman by her self-sacrifice and tho force of her emotion would direct those forces of her emotion rightly. Mr Wircn opposed tho motion. He contended that there was no superior evolution in either man or woman—they wove equal. No proof could be adduced that in any respect woman was on a higher piano of evolution than man. or that sho looked to tho future rather than tho present. Every attempt to show any difference between man--aml woman resulted in unwarranted generalisations. Mr Martin Smith, also in opposition to tho motion, admitted that/Thoro were in tho world women of great capabilities, 'but i.t was unfair, ho contended, to base any argument on these brilliant exceptions. Woman had no sense of high duty, and although in some respects the assisted man’s development, in many sho hindered it. A number of students look part in tho ensuing discussion. On a show of hands the motion was declared lost. The judge, Mr P. Broad, M.A., LLB., placed tho speakers in the following order: —Miss Norman. Mr Wircn. Mr Davidson, Mr Pope. Mr Kirk.