Debating Society

THE DEBATING SOCIETY

This reL,n we have had four meetings, and two presidential elections. We have also, once again, been the hosts in the Northern Regional Round of the Public Schools Debating Association Competition. The first presidential election took place at the beginning of term, and Mr. P. C. N. Brown was returned as president; Mr. H. Biddle became vice-president.

The first meeting of the term was an open one, in which "This House would make the smoking of cigarettes illegal" was proposed by Messrs. P. C. N. Brown and Thirlwell and opposed by Messrs. Collomosse and C. W. Clegg. In spite of appeals from both sides, there were a large number of abstentions, 47 in all. The motion was lost by 61 votes to 14. At this meeting there was a large attendance and many people spoke; it was a sound start to a term's debating.

The second meeting of the term took place in the Stephenson Room, when Mr. Shah proposed that "Modern Youth is typified by beer and Beatles", which Mr. Hattee opposed The close atmosphere of the Stephenson Room lent itself to an amusing, and yet thorough, debate. Mr. Shah won by the narrow margin of 18 votes to 16, with only 4 abstentions. After the debate it was decided that the Stephenson Room was suitable for closed meetings in the future.

We had something unusual for the third meeting; this was a Brains' Trust. We welcomed the Revd. Jones and Messrs. Hall, Williams and Wiseman as the panel. They provided amusing and intelligent answers even to the most difficult questions. We had interesting discussions on the younger generation, politics, money, universities and many other things, including the city walls. There was a good response from the audience, and this unorthodox meeting was altogether a pleasing success.

Alas, the same cannot be said of the last meeting of the term, which should have been the crowning glory of a debating year. It turned out to be one of the most uninteresting debates we have had for some time. The platform speakers were Messrs. J. L. Richardson and J. E. Perks for the proposition, and Messrs. A. V. A. Dickie and M. P. Crossley for the opposition. Although they all spoke well, the motion, "The end justifies the means", left little for the floor to say, and, in spite of the determined efforts of some members, the debate petered out well before time. The result speaks for itself; the motion was lost by 5 votes to 10 with 49 abstentions. Just before this meeting Mr. M. V. Smith was elected president for the 1964-5 season, with Mr. Biddle remaining the vicepresident.

The only other debating activity this term has been the Northern Regional Round of the Public Schools' Debating Association. In this extremely interesting and valuable competition Messrs. Biddle and Spencer represented the School. They did well against heavy opposition, particularly from Ampleforth and Stoneyhurst. In fact, Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Darlington, went through into the final; and we wish them success in London.

This term's debating has had its high moments and its low ones, but no the Whole it has been good and enjoyable. We thank all those who have helped to make it so, and look forward to next Christmas Term with confidence. J.N.S.