From “Q.C.G.”, November 1905

 

Literary & Debating Society.

 

The best fortune one could wish the Debating Society during the present Session is a success equal to that of the past Session, which is admitted by common consent to have been the best for several years. There is no reason w by the Society should not reach the same high level this year, if the members will co-operate with the Committee by attending regularly and taking part in the debates. The number of debates arranged last Session was unusually large, and the experiment was so successful that the Committee decided to follow the same plan this year. A very interesting list of subjects for discussion has been drawn up.

 

The opening meeting was held on November 4th, when Mr. Clarke read a paper on Marlborough, which dealt mainly with his career as a politician. “Hat Night,” that great resource of harassed secretaries, came next. It was chiefly noticeable for the large attendance of lady Students, and the support given to a proposal to hold a Public Debate, at which local speakers would be invited to give their views on some topic of general interest. At the following meeting the motion “That companions exercise a greater influence on character than books” was discussed. Miss Steinberger and Mr. R. Rentoul spoke in the affirmative, and were opposed by Miss Frazer and Mr. M. Fogarty. Other speakers followed on both sides, and the motion was finally defeated by 32 votes against 27. These figures show that so far as attendance is concerned the Society has nothing to complain of. Another encouraging feature of this debate was the number of first-year students who took part.

 

So far this term has been an excellent one for the Society, and judging by the programme, which includes a Public Lecture by Professor Bromwich, the remainder of the term ought to be equally successful.