HOUSE AND FOOTBALL NOTES.
The usual notes from each Captain have been unavoidably held over until Easter. School and St. Augustine's drew at football 4-4, and School beat St. Peter's 3-0. J. Elbourn is now Captain of St. Peter's in succession to R. Bodiam, with G. Goodchild as Vice-Captain. A Baxter's place as Captain of St.- Augustine's is now filled by H. Hogg with J. Pierce as Vice-Captain. D. Potts and F. Vidler are Captain and Vice-Captain of School House. The final points for 1933 will appear in the Easter magazine, together with the list of school football matches for the season.
DEBATES.
Two very successful debates have been organised this term, the first motion that " Man has Descended from Apes," being carried by 25 votes to 23. The chief arguments for the motion concerned the similarity of the skulls of the ape and that of the human being. Certain points regarding the structure of the spine and physical features of the ape and man were discussed. The opposition stated that there were two very large gaps in the evolution of animal life and it is impossible to say what changes may have taken place. Reference also was made to the fixed thumb joint of the ape. One of our humourists suggested that it might be necessary to produce certain boys to prove similarity of physical features of the ape and human being, but the mover of the resolution politely replied that it was quite unnecessary!
The second motion that "Chemical and Modern Methods of Warfare will speedily tend to the Destruction of Civilization" was carried by 33 votes to 3. The major arguments in this debate showed that the tremendous advance of science was being applied for the destruction of humanity, instead of its advance. Certain statistics were given regarding poison gas, wireless, flying machines, and other deadly weapons of modern warfare. Descriptions were given depicting the state of affairs for the civilian population, showing the helplessness and terrible dangers to which they would be exposed. The chief argument for the opposition was that the amount of armaments are so great that the countries would be afraid to go to war because of the devastating effect on the victor as well as the vanquished. These debates proved of great interest and others are being arranged for the near future.
F. Vidler.