INTER-COLLEGE DEBATE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 776, 24 September 1929, Page 16

INTER-COLLEGE DEBATE

TOURING TEAM S APPEARANCE MODERN GIRL DISCUSSED As a preliminary debate to their tour oi the Eastern States of tho United States of America and Canada, the Victoria University College debating team appeared in Auckland last evening in a debate with a team from tho Auckland University College upon the subject, “That the modern sporting girl of today makes a better wife than did the girl of 50 years ago.” The Victoria College team, Messrs. W. J. Hall. G. K. Pcwles and W. Mountjoy. spoke for the affirmative, and tho Auckland College team, Messrs. A. Miller and C. Mason and Dr. Andrews, handled tho negative case. Throughout tho debate the speakers were subjected to comment, witty and otherwise, from a group of students tt tho rear of the liall, who let no opportunity pass of interjecting when he embarrassment of the man on tho platform made it possible. Tho case, as advanced by tho Victoria College team, proved the modern o porting girl to possess rnoro back'bone than her mid-Victorian sister, to be more healthy on account of her habits arid her dress and to be a better

companion and wife, through the application of modern thought and outlook and modern facilities for the better management and conduct of a home. Mr. Mountjoy presented his facts with exceptional clarity and summed up with a conciso resume of his team’s views.

The Auckland College team advanced «. vigorous defence of tho girl of 50 years ago. mainly by attacking the modern girl for her “home-deserting, • ocktail-drinking, tennis-playing and pleasure-loving tendencies.” Mr. viillet* solemnly told the audience that they must decide whether their mothers were better women than their sisters. Mr. Mason cited, as an example of the modern girl’s laziness, iho advertisement of a well-known commodity which advises that “D?*d will do the washing,” and deplored the fact that the modern wife who divided a sardine with her husband ©very evening for dinner was not like the girl of 50 years ago. who had spent her spare time in stitching the antimacassars. Dr. Andrews told his audience subtly that £4OO a year would hardly dress the modern girl—though many young men on that .salary were quite willing to try!

The debate was a no-decision one Mr. J. N. Wilson thanking the speakers and tho audience at the conclusior of the arguments. Mr. M. Rock© O’Shea, registrar o: the college, presided.