The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1883. PROPOSED DEBATING SOCIETY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1083, 15 March 1883, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1883. PROPOSED DEBATING SOCIETY.

In our issue of Saturday last a correspondent drew attention to the advisability of establishing a Debating Club in this town for the winter months. We heartily approve of the movement, andshall be happy to give it our most cordial support. Our correspondent suggested that it #ould be advantageous to the Mechanics’ Institute to hold the meetings of the Club in it, and with this we also agree, and trust that if the club is formed the Committee will see its way clear to giving the use of one of the rooms for that purpose. Of course the club would not meet more often than once a week, and it would be easy to arrange so as to cause no inconvenience to such of the members of the Institute as would feel no interest in the proceedings of the Debating Club, We feel almost confident that there is not a subscriber to the Institute who would object to the meetings ot the club being held there, because no one of them could fail to see that it would tend to advance education, and has therefore the same object in view as the Institute itself. , It belongs in tact to the Institute, it is one, of its functions, and it frequently occurs that in Athenaeums and Mechanics Institutes in the Home Country as well as in this colony teems are set apart entirely for the use of the Debating Club. We have seen this in more places than one, and in larger towns than Temuka, and we trust that no objection will be raised to it here. It would we think tend to popularise the Institute, and it would result in a great many being benefitted educationally. There is no other place in this town where men can spend their winter evenings so proprofitably as in listening to. or taking part in a debate. It is one of the best means of inculcating learning, it tends to keep men away from evil associations, and to cultivate better habits of thought and of action. Debating Societies have been the cause of bringing great men to the front. It is said that when Mr Sheehan—the late Native Minister, and certainly one of the best speakers in New Zealand at present—first joined a Debating Society in Auckland his inability to express his thought in anything like coherent language was the source of great amusement to his associates. John Philpot Curran one of the most distinguished of Irish orators was the greatest dunce of the Debating Society to which he belonged until some remarks ot another member one evening gave him offence. In defending himself he delivered a telling speech and discovered the splendid powers he possessed. It is needless to give any more instances of how useful Debating Societies are in developing the intellectual capabilities of the members. The fact that they do so is too patent, and we sincerely .trust that the project will be taken up at once and successfully carried out.