The Debating Society

The Waltz—Mosco Carver.

Covent Garden—D. Shawe-Taylor.

The Golden Age of Vienna—Hans Gal. Literature, Reference, Religion :

William Temple—F. A. Iremonger.

The Diary of Samuel Pepys—ed., 0. F. Morshead.

The Wooden Horse—Williams.

Passage to India—Forster.

Sixteen Self Sketches—Bernard Shaw.

The Oxford Classical Dictionary.

Whittaker's Almanack, 1949.

Once again the Society has had a successful term. Attendances have been large and more people have been prepared to speak from the floor of the house; there is still, however, a shortage of platform speakers, a fact which became apparent towards the end of last term. Three full debates have been held and the last meeting of term was devoted to an experiment which we are assured has been a success.

The first meeting of term was held on 22nd January, when Mr. Rhodes proposed "that Britain is like an old lion which has lost its teeth, and whose tail anyone may tweak". He contrasted the present situation with that of the war period and said that it was indeed lamentable.

Mr. Wiseman, opposing, said that an emancipatory policy was essential for the future of the world.

J. B. Mortimer seconded the proposition; he said that we commanded no respect abroad and, indeed, appeared as a minor power.

J. C. Griffiths, speaking fourth, said that it was our duty to pursue a policy of self-restraint.

Speeches from the House were made by Royle, Cobham, Wilson, Unwin, Chatterton, Hamilton, Wheatley, D. A. White, and Walter.

The motion was carried by 60 votes to 29.

The second meeting was held on 5th February, the motion being that "This House believes in ghosts".

Canon Patteson, who proposed, said that there were far too many reported instances of ghosts for there to be any doubt as to their existence.

Mr. Waine opposed. He divided ghosts into two classes—pure inventions and illusions.

J. S. Berg, seconding the motion, stated that man could produce manifestations through the agency of his subconscious mind.

D. C. Jack, seconding the opposition, stated that as there was no medium of communication and expression except the body, therefore ghosts could not exist.

Speeches from the House were made by Unwin, Kelsey, J. C. Griffiths, Frater, Bainton, and Jackson.

The motion was carried by 63 votes to 59.

At the next meeting, which was held on 19th February, Mr. Le Tocq proposed "That the composition of the House of Lords, being based on hereditary privilege, should be reformed". Hereditary privilege was out of date; instead he recommended a House of Lords composed of life Peers.

M. I. H. Unwin, opposing, spoke of the beneficial influence and sense of responsibility inherent in the aristocracy. Something more than personal ability was required to make a successful second chamber.

N. B. Burgess, who seconded the proposition, said that a system of hereditary privilege kept many able men out of the House of Lords.

J. B. Mortimer, seconded the opposition; he explained the functions of a second chamber, saying that the House of Lords fulfilled its task admirably.

Speeches were then made by D. S. Wilson, Royle, J. F. N. Jackson, Bainton, Jack, R. M. Booth, Frater, Wheatley, Carlill, Chatterton, Hamilton, Hunt, and Stanley.

The motion was defeated by 71 votes to 16.

The next meeting was held on 5th March. A short discussion was held, the subject being, "That music is the spice of life". D. G. Hilton, proposing, showed how universal music was, and argued that there was music to suit all tastes. D. J. Wilson, opposing, gave a most dramatic speech and came to the conclusion that "one man's meat is another man's poison".

Speeches from the House were few and were made by Unwin, Ryder, Mr. Le Tocq, and Chatterton.

The voting was 65 against and 9 for.

After the discussion Mr. Le Tocq gave a short talk on the organisation and procedure of the House of Commons in preparation for the last debate.

The final meeting of the term was held on 19th March and was in the form of an afternoon session of the House of Commons.

After Question Time, when the Ministers of His Majesty's Government answered topical questions of a not very serious nature, put to them by members of the House, the main part of the session took place.