Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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19 inky ' black-out ' saying ' Good-night ' to persons we can no longer see, at the same time feeling for the edge of the pavement with our umbrellas. The Debating Society During the past season the Society has given much of its attention to some of the problems exercising the minds of those in another place. There may be those who consider that the ponderous has predominated; but it may be observed that the motions have been argued with cogency and understanding, that the debates have yielded their lighter moments, too, and that it is perhaps a good omen for the future that the younger generation chooses to interest itself in weighty matters. The activities of the season have included: — 15th October, 1942. — General meeting for the election of officers, followed by a Debate on the motion: ' ' That the electoral system of Bermuda is obsolete, and should be drastically reformed. Proposer: J. T. Gilbert Opposer: R. H. Motyer This was a keenly contested debate, and well argued. The Constitution quivered, — but survived. The motion was defeated. 5th November. — Hat Debate. Each member is called upon for an impromptu speech on a subject drawn from the hat. This method is found to be effective in opening lips which might otherwise remain sealed, and sometimes induces a surprising flow of eloquence from unexpected sources. Among the subjects were these: — The Bermuda onion is the best in the world. Homework should be rationed. What is a spiral? Ignorance is bliss. There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Should Bermuda have an Income Tax? Spare the rod and spoil the child. Why does a wheel turn? 26th November. — Debate on the motion That the Cinema provides a complete entertainment. Proposer: M. D. Taylor Opposer: H. A. Leseur Third: J. T. Gilbert Fourth: M. C. Misick Movie fans rallied strongly to defend their weekly solace, and the more austere of the brethren succumbed to the frontal attack of Abbott and Costello. The motion was carried with gusto and a touch of whoopee.

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18 brought out later and scrutinized with an air intended to convey that it is their first appearance. It is difficult to fool oneself even this way I find. Lastly there is a tray marked ' Out. ' This is to receive the papers I have dealt with, and always seems to be empty. Lest the messenger who clears it should think I have been idle, I transfer to it a few of the papers from the ' Pending ' tray. He happily takes these out to the Registry for disposal, and, since they, of course, are still marked up for my attention, back they all come an hour later. I have not been found out in this once yet, since, as nobody has the time to read them, nobody is any the wiser. Thiis all are happy, and this act of subterfuge is all part of the war effort. My painstaking mental efforts are constantly being inter- rupted by the telephone. It rings yet again. I snatch up the receiver and mumble my department and name ungraciously into it. Will I be in at four o ' clock? Doctor X. would like to see me about this and that. I reply that I shall be delighted, and replace the receiver realising I must look up the answers to his problems before he arrives. After a fruitless search I ring up the laboratories for ex- pert advice and find that, as usual, there is a two hour delay on the trunk line. On these trunk calls one is only allowed six minutes conversation. This is all very trying, because, once having made connection, we ' ll suppose, with Leeds, one minute is spent in get- ting the right extension, another in finding the particular person you want, who wastes yet another minute in trying to understand who you are, and another what it is you want. There is thus never much time for sensible conversation and very often the call is entirely wasted. I have now thought out replies to some of the bits of paper which, by this time, seem to be all over the desk, so I ring for a typist to come and take some dictation. Here again there will be a long delay. The day drags on, my head aches and I am very bad-tempered. As I fully expected, Dr. X. and the typist both arrive together, just as I am in the middle of my call to the laboratories. I hastily finish the call without, I hope, letting Dr. X. know that I am talking about his problems, and tell the typist to come back later. The worthy doctor and I talk back and forth for some time, and then, finally, I bring out the answer I have just extracted from the laboratories, as if it were my own sudden and original brilliance. H departs satisfied and, I think, impressed. I call back the typist, but there has been such a long delay that I find that I have now forgotten all the neatly worded answers that I had previously prepared. I get all tied up with the dictation, and get hot and em- barrassed, but finally it is done. I shall be spared seeing it in black and white till the next morning. We clear up. At last all the ' Confidential, ' ' Secret ' and ' Most secret ' papers are locked safely away. We stagger out into the

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20 28th January, 1943 —Debate on the motion That the un- restricted use of motor traffic would be in the best interests of Bermuda ' s future development. Proposer: P. B. Seymour Opposer: M. D. Taylor Third: K. G. R. Hallam Fourth: J. T. Gilbert This resulted in a distinct triumph for the charms of good, honest manure. The Opposition spoke with dust in the eyes, and secured the defeat of the motion by a very substantial margin. 11th February. — Another Hat Debate. 4th March. — Debate on the motion That the women of Bermuda should be given the vote. Proposer: M. D. Taylor Opposer: R. H. Motyer Third: J. T. Gilbert Fourth: K. G. R. Hallam The majority seemed inclined to the opinion that Votes for women is ' ' a good thing, — but not in Bermuda! The motion was defeated. OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1942-43 President Mr. J. H. Kerry Secretary R. H. Motyer Committee: J. T. Gilbert, A. C. H. Hallett, H. A. Leseur, M. C. Misick. World To-day Club The Club continued to flourish, and the usual weekly meetings were held, at which discussions took place on various subjects of topical interest. At one of the meetings held in October the Club was privileged to hear an address on Taxation by Mr. F. C. Misick, M.C.P. On another occasion Mr. Richardson, President of the Club, led us through the intricacies of the Beveridge Plan. To both we are very grateful for their instructive and interesting ad- dresses. At the beginning of the Christmas Term, it was decided to combine the senior and junior sections of the club, and this arrange- ment has been found to work quite well. The secretary, G. D. Phillips, left Saltus at the end of the Summer Term, and his place has since been filled by J. T. Gilbert. The club at present has, fifteen members. J. T. G,