NEGRO VISITORS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 July 1938, Page 4

NEGRO VISITORS

DEBATE IN OPERA HOUSE LAST EVENING ISSUES OF PEACE AND WAR. EVOLUTION OF NATIONAL LIFE. War, its possibility and desirability was the subject of a well-attended debate in the Opera House last night, between the negro visitors, Messrs J. S. Byas and C. W. Gilton, Le Moyne University, U.S.A., and a Masterton team, Messrs J. H. Kemnitz and J. Dwyer. The American team spoke in support of the view that continued eflorts for world peace were both impossible and underisable. In the absence of the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, Mr C. C. Marsack, who presided, extended a warm welcome to the visitors. The argument that world peace was" now impossible was advanced by the leader of the visiting team, Mr Byas. The League of Nations, he said, had been proved inefficient in times of crisis. The nations in Europe were like so many matches piled on top of a bottle. Only the slightest push was necessary to plunge the whole lot into war. There was the same situation in the world today as before the Great War. Some countries wanted to hold on to what they had while others were seeking to expand. The view that peace was riding on a train of evolution, and in spite of gloomy fatalism, was bound to come, was expressed by the leader for the negative, Mr Kemnitz. Man had found that it paid to set up rules of government and to live in peace. Mr Kemnitz also claimed that man had lost 'his desire to overcome and dominate others, and that that primitive urge had found an outlet in other more peaceful ways, such as sport in its various forms. Facilities of modern transport and radio also were bringing nations closer together and breaking down the barriers to international harmony. Officially, said Mr Gilton, there was a state of peace existing in the world today. If what was going on in Spain and' in China was peace, then peace was certainly undesirable. War, continued Mr Gilton, had a tendency to unite the people of a nation. He cited the unification of the people of the North and South of the United States during and after the Spanish-American War, and also referred to the growth of unity in China during the present conflict. Mr Gilton also claimed that war was necessary and desirable to keep down “bully” nations. Also, if the institution of war was abolished, how would a country be able to defend itself against invasion? That there were millions of people of different races living in America in peace today proved the possibility of peace, Mr Dwyer contended. The fundamental instinct of man was to preserve life. War was the most effective form' of destruction known. Mr Dwyer painted a harrowing picture of the effects of modern warfare, and quoted various figures to illustrate its cost in lives and property. The debate, on which no decision was given, was proceeded by impromptu speeches by Messrs W. C. Orange (“If I Were Dictator”), E. S. Essler (“My Ideal Wife”) and W. Brady (“Impressions of America”). Two enjoyable soprano solos were sung by Miss Gillian Gooder. On the motion of Mrs T. R. Barrer, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the negro visitors. Mr R. S. C. Agar, chairman of the New Zealand University Students’ Association, said that, as’ that was the visitors’ last appearance in New Zealand, he would like to take the opportunity of- extending to them best wishes for a successful continuation of their tour. Following the Rotary Luncheon yesterday afternoon, the two visitors addressed a large audience of secondary school pupil? and others in the Assembly Hall at . Wairarapa College. In the absence of the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, the visitors were warmly welcomed by Mrs T. R. Barrer, president of the Masterton branch of the League of Nations Union. The visitors were also welcomed, on behalf of the College, by the Principal, Mr G. G. Hancox. At the conclusion of their addresses, Messrs Byas and Gilton were accorded a hearty vote of thanks, on the motion of the chairman of the College Board of Governors, Mr W. R. Nicol.