A quiet Autumn Term was followed by unusual activity in
the Spring. Before Christmas we were so hampered by the
illness of officers and members that only one debate was possible.
At this the motion, that " this House deplores the lack of
patriotism shown by strikers ", had an able supporter in Mr. A. J.
MOORSE. He amazed the House by the polished magniloquence
of his phrases and the length of his words. Against him
Mr. A. E. ROWE gave a well-reasoned though somewhat un-
inspiring appeal to British justice and democracy. Speaking
third, Mr. P. J. C. MURRAY addressed the House with consider-
able confidence ; apart from one delightful lapse (when he
spoke of " paralysing our trade-arteries at a vital nerve-centre ")
he made an incisive case. Mr. D. S. WILLIAMS, who spoke
fourth, was rather " off form " ; his speech was obviously well
prepared, but never showed any of the eloquence we have heard
from him on previous occasions. The House gave its vote to
the Proposers with a substantial majority.
In the first debate of the Spring Term the motion was that
" this House insists that man is no improvement on the ape ".
Mr. MURRAY, proposing, gave a speech that was clever and
polished, though (dare I suggest it ?) just a little dull. There
was more wit in the speech of the Opposer, Mr. J. A. M.
BALDWIN, who made good use of his knowledge of English
Literature. Mr. J. D. B. LAMBERT spoke third ; his argument
really amounted to Video meliora, proboqtie; deteriora sequor.
Mr. J. C. C. MEREDITH completed a platform of speakers that
showed real ability in the art of oratory. The motion was
decisively defeated.
At the next debate Mr. H. K. HILL proposed the motion,
that " things are not what they were ". Briefly, but graphically,
he sketched the changes in the history of mankind. A fine
speech ! Perhaps, however, the speech of the whole season
that we shall remember the longest was that of the Opposer,
Mr. A. E. ROWE. His logic was by no means irrefutable, yet
his humour made this a most enjoyable speech to listen to.
The eloquence of the principle speakers rather overshadowed
the speeches of Mr. J. G. UNDERWOOD and Mr. N. S. BROOKE,
who spoke third and fourth. At the vote the logic of Mr. HILL
triumphed over the wit of Mr. ROWE.
The season was closed by a night of impromptu debates.
The attendance on this occasion was the best we have seen for
a number of years. The House, enthusiastic though rather
noisy, provided a spate of lively little speeches.
This has been one of our more successful seasons. We can
feel confident that we have steered safely through the doldrums
of last year and look forward to even better debates next Winter.
A.J.W.