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with the lowest murder rate had already abolished the death penalty. In answer to these points the opposition stated that the State had the right to decide, that other countries were no parallel, and, in addition, that the death penalty was the strongest deterrent to the worst crime—murder.

The speakers from the House were Booth, Powell, Wheatley, Cobham, Baker, Markus, Beachell, Kelsey, Hunt, Unwin, Pallant, the Chaplain, and Berg.

The motion was defeated by 89 votes to 9, whereas last year the motion was carried by 42 votes to 22.

In the second discussion D. J. Wilson proposed "That this House considers compulsory military service at the present time inadvisable." Three main points made by the proposition were that the scheme did not promote efficiency, that it spoilt one's career and one's character. The opposition, led by J. F. N. Jackson, answered these points and recommended a larger standing army in preference to the other alternative—a large Territorial force.

The speakers from the House were Unwin, Cobham, Beachell Booth, Burgess, Smithson, Markus, Bainton, and Lochore.

The motion was defeated by 78 votes to 16. Last year the voting was 53 for and 15 against.

By S. Daneff

THE PURIFICATION The deep ulcerations of regret and pain, set inside us the horror of a desert. To cleanse, to cut, to freeze out the old pains, and shout free our finest thoughts across the clear expanses of incandescent ice, is the aim. A glowing, ecstatic, scintillating plain, whose cool, hard arms will hold an invitation that does not know regret, the incandescent waste, whose coolness cleanses us into the purity of the keenest blade.