Additions to the Library in the course of the term include :Russian Opera—Martin Cooper. Gilbert and Sullivan—Arthur Jacobs. Two Cheers for Democracy—E. M. Forster. Poverty and the Welfare State—B. S. Rowntree and G. R. Lavers. Life in a Medieval College—Frederick Harrison. A Natural History of Man in Britain—H. I. Fleure. The Struggle for Europe—Chester Wilmot. The World of Science—F. Sherwood-Taylor. Adventure Lies Ahead. The Story of the Green Howards, 1939-1945—Synge.
THE DEBATING SOCIETY This term's debating started off in a somewhat disappointing fashion. Attendances were not good and the standard of speaking was below our normal level. An attempt to analyse the trouble led to no very important findings, though it is to be remarked that the Society depends largely on a knot of enthusiastic senior members, and a large number of keen junior members. The Committee came in for some criticism, and a change of constitution was ordained : in future the Committee will consist of five members elected by the Society, and one representative of each House. It is hoped that in this way it will become a more active body. At the first of the term's five meetings Mr. Burgess and Everitt proposed that "This House views the prospect of universal television with misgiving". They feared the stamp of uniformity on our way of life, the dulling of our senses, the effect on home life, and eye-strain. Oldroyd and Pegg, who opposed, both made their maiden speeches from the platform. They urged that television brought beneficial relaxation, with joy and amusement into many homes, that the effect on home life would be beneficial, that our senses would be stimulated, and so on. There were many speeches from the floor of the House, some of them repetitive and a number of them relevant. No doubt everybody was quite right, but the House has consistently refused to be worried about the future and voted true to form, rejecting the motion by 82 votes to 43. .
At the second meeting it had been decided to try once again two short debates. First, Lochore proposed "That Great Britain should become the 49th State". He foresaw financial, military and international gains from this arrangement. Wheatley, who opposed, claimed that British social and cultural life would be submerged by American influences, and he feared American interference in British internal affairs. Then, unfortunately, he mentioned chewing gum, 24
