Orderly Debate

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 325, 10 April 1928, Page 1

Orderly Debate

Facetious Students Give Coppers to Mayor AUCKLANDER BEST SPEAKER (Special to THE SUN) WELLINGTON, Monday. The inter-varsity debate was one of the most orderly on record. This was largely owing to the good sense and tact of the Mayor, Mr. G. A. Troup, who presided. Victoria College was placed first, Auckland second, Canterbury third, and Otago fourth. The students in the body of the hall generally confined themselves to humorous interjection, and though three pigeons were released at various times during the evening, and flew about the* hall, displaying the green and gold of Victoria College, and a toy monkey on string was let down from the roof ventilator and made to perform a wild dance in mid-air, nothing disorderly marked the night. Two processions of students invaded the stage, one during the debate, to present the chairman with a drink, and the other, after the judges had retired, to make a donation of coppers to the Mayor for his services. It was announced that one of the. undergraduates had given a half-penny, and there were shouts of “Stump up!” Otago and Victoria College were awarded the Joynt Scroll, the chairman of the judges, Mr. J. G. Watson, complimenting the college teams on the standard of English, hut sajdng that the speeches lacked punch. Mr. H. Bailey, the Auckland leader, was adjudged the best speaker.