DEBATING SOCIETY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 310, 23 May 1913, Page 3

DEBATING SOCIETY

The Egmont Club's debaters liultl their lirst meeting of tb« session oil Wednesday evening. Mr. is. J. King, president of the. institution, presided. The -report of the sub-committee lccommended that the debates during' this session be conducted along the lines of a literary and debating society; that the meeting's he held 011 Wednesdays; that a syllabus committee be set up; and that Air. H. Mclf Morrison be asked to act as chairman for the year. | There was quite a lengthy debate 011 the first recommendation. Those speakers supporting the committee's recommendation pointed out that as the general elections drew near it might happen that party spirit would be introduced into the debates, thus destroying, or at least endangering, the harmony existing | among members of the club; and, furi ther, that the "mock' parliament of the previous year had provided too many opportunites for burlesque—opportunities which were not neglected. The opposition contended that parliamentary debates were always more lively and interesting, the range of subjects included matters of topical interest, and that many young speakers who would address "Mr. Speaker" in the "house" would refrain from taking part in the discussions of ?. debating society, Eventually the report was adopted. The programme for the evening con- j sisted of impromptu speeches, Tilt; subjects drawn were tackled readily, and the discussions on the whole were interesting. The question "Is War -Justifiable?" brought out the best speeches, while the treatment of the query "do married men live longer than single men, or does it only seem longer?" gave op portunities for speeches in lighter vein, although the opener, Mr. Morison, led j off with a dignified and rather sensible j speech on the beauties of the married I state. Tll this connection, insurance tables were quoted to show that mar- \ ried men actually did live longer lives than unmarried men. One effect of these debates has been to stimulate interest in the club, and they are responsible for a promise of larger membership. THE SCHOOL PLAYGROUNDS j

What would the position be in regard to the school playground if there were no public park handy? Presumably the children would have to be turned loose in the streets. The playground is only large enough for a small country school, and it is expected to accommodate the pupils of the largest school in the Taranaki education district, and a school which has an unusually large proportion of senior scholars, due to the fact that ' this is a district high school. The pupils of the secondary department, or high school, come from all parts of the dis- < triet, and fine, strapping boys and girls they are. When they have a recess for play, they are driven across to Victoria ( Park for their games! Even then the schoolground is far too cramped for the remaining junior scholars. Accid-mts ■ happen not infrequently, although vtry careful supervision is exercised over the ■ youngsters at play. The position was brought before the Board of .Education j some time ago, but unfortunately the Department gathered from the Board's representatives that the school committee wanted a new horse paddock! What the school wants is a more spacious playground, and the school 'ommitteemen have taken up the attitude of Pears' naughty boy: "They won't be hoppy ' till they get it." Direct .•epresMitations have been made to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Public Works, and the Minister of Education. And the chances are that every Minhwr ,vho visits Stratford will hear of it. There is undoubtedly a crying necessity for a i change. Whilst on the subject of this seiool, it is opportune to mention the complaint of the Tariki people that, owing lo the refusal of the railway authorities to schedule Tariki as a regular stoppingplace for the mail train, the children attending the high school from there are placed at a disadvantage as compared with the scholars from Waitara, Lepperton, and Inglewood. These children could, if travelling by the mail train, start school with the "rest at halfpast nine o'clock, but, being compelled to travel by the second train, they lose about an hour's instruction daily. The express train does stop at Tariki sometimes, possibly on two mornings a week, and the settlers argue that if the train can be stopped for the convenience of any person wishing to travel to the next station beyond Hawera, surely the Department can study the requirements of these several children. The matter is I certainly one that will bear looking into, and the mail train could easily make up the two minutes or so required lo pick up these passengers.

RIFLE SHOOTING STRATFOBD CLUB. Stratford, Thursday. Yesterday afternoon six members' of tlie Stratford Rifle Club competed for Mr. Burmester's trophy. The conditions were anything but perfect, till late in the afternoon when there was a decided improvement in the light. Rifleman Ferguson won by three points, his score at 000 yards being very good. Following are details of the scoring. Ranges COO yards and 700 yards.

000 700 Tl. Rfm. Ferguson (hop. 7) 40 30 89 Rfm. F. Arden (30) 30 20 80 Rfm. F. Arden (20) 3(1 30 SO "Rfm. E. Brocklebank (4) 40 33 77 Rfm. N. Thorpe (ser.) 30 31 07 Rfm. Mitchell (0) .. 20 24 59

COMMERCIAL NEWTON KING'S STRATFORD WEEKLY REPORT. At the Ilaymarket on Saturday last a moderate number of pigs were yarded. Prices ruling were about par with last sale. I quote slips :,nd weancrs 4s 0.1 i to Ss Od, small stores 10s Cd to 19s. medium £1 8s to £2 (is. sundries at usual rates. STRAY PARAGRAPHS Stratford was hardly prepared for the result of,the Stratford-Tukapa game at New Plymouth. But wait for the return match! Footballers are talking about the great win the Senior fifteen scored on Thursday last, and wondering about their chances in the next match, but the greatest wonder is the value that is to be had in overcoats at Mullen and Marshall's. They are showing coats to beep you warm and coats to keep you dry, in the latest styles and colors.

Mr. S. Sharp, who managed Mr. C. E. James' hairdressing and shaving saloon throughout the whole of its successful career, has bought the business ''and moved the whole of the up-to-date fittings of the saloon to convenient premises almost immediately opposite, where he will be pleased to welcome old customers and new. Complete fresh stock ,£ smokers' sundries.*