Updated 6 May 99

Early Years

Before The WSU

Public Speaking and Debating have always been part of society. Maori society has its formal speaking, whaikorero, on the marae. Much discussion and debate took place at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Debating—or arguing the 'for' and 'against' of proposals—still takes place in Parliament [between the Government and Opposition parties], the court room [between the Prosecution and the Defence counsel], and in political and social conflicts aired in the media. But in addition to these 'real life' uses of public speaking, we have for most of our history also had public speaking clubs and societies where people have discussed critical issues but with a particular focus on the art and fun of speaking well. What follows are snippets from early newspapers and other documents that reveal some of the early history of public speaking groups in Wellington. More than anything they show that our forebears certainly knew how to have a good time and the 'gift of the gab' is not just a modern phenomenon. Copies of the newspapers are available for viewing at the Wellington Public Library.

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King Dick

    Richard Seddon was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1893 to 1906. Standing about six feet and powerfully built, he spoke with a Lancashire accent missing aitches from words where they belonged and adding them where they did not. He thrived in the rough and tumble of stormy public meetings. Originally elected from the West Coast, his many years living in Molesworth St and Tinakori Rd, delivering booming speeches in Parliament, mark him as a true Wellington public speaker. But what was it really like to be a public speaker in the days before microphones and cosy television studios? During the election struggle of 1905, Seddon spoke to a seething, bitterly divided crowd at Canterbury Hall in Christchurch. Here's how R.M. Burdon described it in his book King Dick: A Biography of Richard John Seddon:

    "A dense crowd thronged the entrance to the building and arrangements for admission had broken down when Seddon arrived shortly before 8 pm. A few resourceful spirits, realizing that they had no hope of getting in, attempted to kidnap the Premier with a view to making him address the thousands outside while those within waited. Escaping capture with some difficulty Seddon entered the hall and appeared upon the platform to be greeted with a spontaneous burst of applause which for a time completely defeated a well-prepared hostile demonstration. As the cheering died down the counter-attack developed. A storm of hoots, hisses and cat-calls broke out, and then began a noisy war of factions which lasted for nearly an hour. While Seddonites, Masseyites and new Liberals shouted themselves hoarse the Premier persisted in trying to make himself heard and at length his powerful voice began to rise above the gradually subsiding tumult. After a few of the noisiest demonstrators had been removed by the police the remainder lost heart or succumbed to the speaker's extraordinary power to dominate an audience. In the end Seddon's speech, which lasted for three hours, was heard with hardly an interruption. Reports that appeared in the Opposition press scarcely did justice to the occasion. 'Mr Seddon may be said to have addressed a huge and mixed meeting by sheer force of lung power, with the assistance of the police'…" [last line quoted from the New Zealand Herald of 30 November 1905]

    A larger than life bronze statue of the larger than life pubic speaker Dick Seddon in full cry with arm raised above his head still stands not far from the steps of Parliament.

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Debating Societies

    A mock Parliament was held last evening in the Sydney street Primitive Methodist Schoolroom by the Sydney street and Northland Primitive Methodist Mutual Improvement Society. The Rev. C.E. Ward acted as Speaker. The members of the ministry were subjected to several questions without notice, and two Bills were introduced. The principal item of the evening was the debate on the Right to Work Bill, introduced by the Prime Minister. This brought forth much discussion, in which about fifteen members took part. The Leader of the Opposition moved an amendment, which was lost by one vote, and the second reading of the Bill was passed, amidst great applause. The next meeting, "ladies' evening", will be on Wednesday week. The ladies have been practising assiduously for some time.
    The Star Boating Club's Debating Society held its final meeting of the session last night, when the motion, "That New Zealand would thrive better under Freetrade than under Protection", was discussed. Mssrs S. Cowles (proposer) and K. Wardrop (seconder) supported the motion, whilst Mssrs. J. C. Dudley and R. Ritchie opposed. After a lengthy discussion, in which several members took part, the motion was lost. Mr A.H. Barnett presided over a good attendance of members."

Evening Post, Tuesday 7 September, 1909

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Debating Societies

    On Saturday evening, the Victoria College Debating Society brought its season to a close, when the students debated "That the State should not enter into competition with legitimate private enterprise". Mr E.M. Rutherford moved and Mr Girling Butcher [?] opposed. Mr A.J. Luke seconded the mover and Mr C.A.L. Treadwell the opposer. Twelve members participated in the debate, the affirmative being declared carried by fourteen votes to eleven. Mr Webb judged the speakers as follows: Mssrs M.H. Oram, H Girling Butcher, E.M. Rutherford, G.M. Morice, and A.J. Luke.
    The Union Prize—the society's chief prize, books valued at five pounds—was awarded Mr F.M. Hogben, Mr Oram being runner-up. Mr J Ogg received the new Speaker's prize, and Miss Fell the one for best lady debater."

Evening Post, September, 1909

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ORATORY
PLUNKET MEDAL COMPETITION
VICTORIA COLLEGE DEBATES

    The fifth annual contest for the Plunket Medal competition took place on Saturday evening in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. The competition is open to members of the Victoria College Debating Society. There was a large audience. Dr. Newman (the Mayor) and the Hon. D [Budde?] were present; also members of the professorial staff of the college. Mr J. M[?] presided.
    In the order of their appearance, the competitors were: R.G. Butcher, W.J. McEldowney, J.McL. Hogben, J. Ogg, M.H. Oram, M.A., J. Ross, M.A., R. Kennedy, B.A., and G.W. Morice.
    Mr Butcher ("Nelson"), without any preliminary , in a subdued fashion, plunged into his subject. His matter was somewhat better than his way of expressing it. Generally, he lacked vivacity, and not always was his memory to be relied on. Mr Butcher concluded, not too effectively, by stating that England of today was greatly indebted to Nelson for his work on the water.
    In expounding the liberty-loving characteristics and masterfulness of Oliver Cromwell, Mr W.J. McEldowney averred that "the genius of Cromwell was admitted, only his motives might be questioned. Never did power so become a man as it did Cromwell." The speaker's pocket biography bore the evidence of extended study and judicious grooming. The subject was appropriately introduced and elaborated logically. Mr McEldowney's delivery was characterised by confidence, and his peroration by vigour.
    The character discussed by Mr J.McL. Hogben—Toussaint L'Ouverture, the whilom negro slave, who by virtue of sheer strength of will and merit, attained to the commander-in-chiefship of the French forces in Hayti—possessed the virtue of being less hackneyed than the others chosen. Mr Hogben lacks nothing in confidence. There was a tendency on his part to overstress at unexpected intervals, while at times his intonation inclined to the monotonous. The address traversed the life of this unique patriot and leader of men, in a comprehensive, intelligent, and interesting way, and on the whole Mr Hogben handled it with sympathy and deliberation.
    Mr J. Ogg, who took Napoleon Buonaparte as his subject, expressed his views on the great Frenchman in quite grandiloquent language, and in a fluent but uninspiring delivery. The address abounded in such pithy remarks as "His vaulting ambition o'erleapt itself" and "He was not bloodthirsty but he was not sparing of blood". Mr Ogg's effort attracted a large section of the audience, which followed his elaborate phrases with great appreciation. The speaker made one bad break when his memory went back on him. There was thunderous applause when this candidate concluded.
    Mr M.H. Oram eulogised Abraham Lincoln's exalted virtues and tremendous patriotism. Mr Oram's enunciation satisfied, and his general delivery and gesture impressed, comparatively, for their naturalness. At time, the matter displayed indications of sense and clarity being sacrificed to sound, the author's fancy—he was not alone in this respect—leaning to the sonorous. Mr Oram evinced a close sympathy with his subject and wound up amidst much amiable appreciation.
    Mr J.W. Ross's miniature sketch of the martyred patriot, General Gordon, was in every sense methodical, but colourless. The address consisted mainly of a catalogue of the outstanding events in the life of the soldier-christian. Mr Ross's facts were undeniable but they received little illumination from his studied examination [?].
    Mr R Kennedy addrressed a striking subject in that glad old sea-dog, Francis Drake, but this was accomplished, unfortunately, by a delivery that did not please. His matter had a poetical fancy, a graphic and vivid touch. Generally, however, the speaker's platform manner was not encouraging.
    In, doubtless, appropriately awed accents, Mr G.W. Morice (the last candidate), outlined the missionary and exploring work of David Livingstone. It is an old subject, and Mr Morice produced little that was refreshingly new. His was a quiet effort, appealing mainly to the emotional and concluding effectively with an imperative eulogy on the great Scot.
    The winner, chosen by ballot of members of the Debating Society, proved to be Mr Morice, one of the "outsiders" of the party, who received 82 votes. Mr McEldowney was placed second with 60 [?], and Mr Oram third with 52.
    Hon. D Budde [?] presented the medal with a few encouraging words.
    Dr Newman's entertaining and appropriate remarks were punctuated with good-humoured sallies from the gallery, which were parried effectively more than once. The Mayor's effort was the brightest of the evening, and he sat down a great favourite.
    Professor J. Adamson, inter alia, thanked the Minister and Dr. Newman for their attendance.
    During the interval of counting the votes the College Glee Club rendered several selections. Previous winners of the Plunket Medal are: 1905, E.J. Fitzgibbon: 1906, H.F. O'Leary; 1907, F.P. Kelly; 1908, D.S. Smith."

Evening Post, 13 September, 1909

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