LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 81, 3 April 1903, Page 2

LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY.

A meeting was held at the Town Hall on Thursday evening on \he subject of forming a Literary and Debating Society. There were only a srmll attendance, but tbis w»s not to be wondered at, as, owing to tbe meeting not being advertised, our readers Knew nothing about the matter, and it was only by accident that our r- porter heard of it. It is frequently fatal to the object in view in a matter of this kind not to give the fullest publicity, especially in relation to a movement which commends itself to all, rght-mindei people, the chief object baing to find profrable recreation fcr the young men of the day, and fit them for the higher duties of citizenship. Mr Allan Veale presided, and briefly explained the object of tbe meeting. Considerable diEtussion ensued as to whether the Society should be solely for young men (up to 35 years of age) or should be an open Society irrespective of age or sex, and several motions were made on the matter.

Eventually it was decided on the motion of the Rev. S. S. Osborne that a Literary and Debating Society be formed with senior and junior branches. | The subscription was fixad at 2s 6d for the season.

I A committee consisting of Messrs. Smith, Campbell, Skeates and Allan I Veale was appointed to work up the junior branch, Messrs Dsmpsey, Wood ham and Roberts being appointed for the senior branch, Mr Stanley Smith was elected secretary pro-tem. The two committees will work in concert, <md we anticipate that cordial support will be accorded by the public to such an excellent project. Votes of thanks were passed to the initiators of the movement and to the chairman.