The fourth meeting consisted of discussions on the racial problem, and on the primary pleasure of the people : both very interesting topics. We must again extend our thanks to the kitchen staff for providing C.D.I. us with refreshments for our meetings.
THE DEBATING SOCIETY There was this term a slight reshuffle of the committee. Mr. D. L. Slade had been elected President for the term, so Mr. N. R. Barton replaced him as a Party Leader. There were also two additions to the committee, Messrs. J. J. Rhodes and P. Collins. As the Big Hall was being extended during the term meetings of the Society had to be held elsewhere. The first meeting, being an open one, was held in the gym. The three following were closed meetings and the Lecture Theatre was found to be big enough. By the end of term the Big Hall had been restored to general use, and the last meeting was held there. The standard of speaking this term was again fairly high. The number of speeches from the floor has been encouraging, while the different styles of speaking employed by the 'regulars' have usually put life into the meetings. The Society, then, can certainly boast its 'characters'. First, there is Mr. N. R. Barton who disdains to speak with composure and who always relies on his ancestral dignity. Then there is Mr. F. D. Lavender, a subtle reasoner and a realist, and Mr. J. M. Pickard, who has cultivated a brilliant technique of arguing round the point in his search for human justice in everything. Finally, there are Mr. D. L. Brown, a politician and a moralist, and Mr. P. H. Sykes, always urged by an abundance of self-confidence. The first meeting was held on 23rd January, the motion being that "This House deplores convention". Proposing the motion Mr. N. R. Barton, with the aid of energetic gesticulations, made a distinction between convention, which stifled progress, and tradition. In opposing him, Mr. F. D. Lavender observed that convention was a code of conduct by which man's education was judged. The seconders were Messrs. J. M. Pickard and W. J. Bottomley. The motion was rejected by 44 votes to 42 with 13 abstentions. The next meeting took place on 13th February. J. F. Hayes, Esq., a guest speaker, in proposing that "the pen is mightier than the sword", stated that the pen based its strength on reason. R. J. Wilson, Esq., another guest speaker, denied this and affirmed that military power was indispensable if civilisation was to flourish. Seconding the motion, Mr. C. J. Parker looked for rule by peace. The fourth speaker, Mr. M. W. Territt, stressed that the sword had always been the symbol of strength. The motion was carried by 40 votes to 25 with 4 abstentions. 13
