COMMUNITY WEEK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 74, 15 May 1946, Page 5

COMMUNITY WEEK

INTERESTING SERIES CONCLUDES POTENTIALITIES OF A CENTRE The conclusion of a series of educational and cultural lectures under the auspices of the Auckland Adult Education Centre, took the form, last Friday eveningl of an interesting talk by Mr P. Martin-Smith (Director) on the subject of a Community Centre in Whakatane, and its potential for good upon the people of the district.

The week, which extended from May 6 to 10 covered a wide field of subjects including World Affairs, Music, Drama and Literature. The speakers, apart from the Director himself, were Mr Owen Jensen (Music Specialist), Mr J. F. McDougall 8.A., and Miss E. M. Smith, M.A. The endeavour on this occasion was to interest a wide sphere of public, and to this end, day sessions were inaugurated for the especial benefit of housewives, whilst luncheon sessions were initiated for the benefit of the town workers. The attendance at all classes was exceptionally good, and the question periods, which inevitably followed each subject produced a number of most interesting and on many occasions, debatable points. On Friday evening, Mr J. M. McDougall gave a short dissertation on drama in continuation of his previous lecture. The main theme of the evening, however, was the address on Community Centres by Mr P. Martin-Smith, who went to some length to lay before his hearers, the complete outline, and operation of the English Centres, which were having such a bearing upcn' communal life in the Old Country.

Building up Culture

Mr Martin-Smith said that the original idea behind the creation of Community Centres lay in the effort to counterbalance the effect of the Industrial Revolution. He drew a ;stark comparison between the life of the large 'scale families of 50 years ago, and the small scale families of today, and said that it was essential that something should be done to bring a community closer together for the purpose of social, cultural, and recreational activities. It was necessary, he admitted to first of all overcome certain antagonistic elements, but this could be done by -.making a survey of the particular problems which faced any individual community. In actuality, a community centre could be termed a selfimposed democratic unity, but it was impossible to lay down any rigid pattern to meet the requirements of •alt centres. The activities of such .organisation would not be brought into collision with existing organisations, but should extend a helping hand to make better facilities possible all round. Age-Groups Defined He split the potential community centre membership into four classes: The age groups ranging from five years to include infant health facilities, kindergarten and creche; five to 15 years—to include children’s health activities, library, craftwork, hobbies, Scouts, Guides, folk-dances, supervised sport; 15 to 21 years—to include health development, gymnasium, library, hobbies, drama, debating, art and music; adults—to include gymnasium, library, hobbies, debating, study groups, home science, progress league, art, music and dramatic work. Apart from these, the centre could control Parents’ Association, Mothers’ Clubs, Ex-Ser-vicemen’s and Women’s Organisations and Friendly Societies.

He emphasised the need for the Centre to be fully representative of the whole of the community, and to be built upon old and existing organisations. Assistance would be forthcoming from the Educational Authorities, but the main responsibility lay with the community itself, to create the facilities he had mentioned by banding itself together. Advice and practical help would be always available from the Auckland Adult Educational Centre. Possible War Memorial Discussing the subject, several speakers mentioned the desirability of making a war memorial of such a venture, and there appears every prospect of hearing something further under this head in the near future.

The evening closed with a hearty

vote of thanks to the speakers for their interesting talks and lectures, and a special vote of apprecation to Miss L. M. Lawes, the General Secretary, for her untiring efforts during the week. A tasteful supper, served by the ladies, terminated the proceedings.