SEVEN WEEKS OF SUNSHINE

Evening Star, Issue 22149, 2 October 1935, Page 17

SEVEN WEEKS OF SUNSHINE

MISS'VIOLET MACMILLAN GOES ON TOUR On Friday night two weary, but cheerful, tourists returned to Dunedin in the persons of Misses Violet Macmillan and Ada Inman, who had just completed a seven weeks’ tour of the Canterbury province, for the purpose

of meeting country folk and drawing their attention to the services offered by the Association for Country Education. ' . “ We left Dunedin,” said Miss Macmillan, “on a sunny morning on August 12, and the sun has shone on us throughout the trip.- We have received unfailingly cordial welcomes from those who turned out to hear us, and from the tourist’s point of view,, the continued fine weather has been perfect, however unfortunate it may be for the farmers.” On arrival at Christchurch, where library and drama headquarters are located at Canterbury College,

some days were spent in office work, in finalising the arrangements for the tour with the provincial officers of the country women’s organisations and others, and in holding meetings at Motukarara and other nearby centres. Next North Canterbury was visited, which was all hew ground. Hamper Springs and Waiau were the northernmost 'limits reached. These districts have for many years been served by the C.A.R. Library, now part of the A.C.E., so the people there were found most responsive. One of the home science tutors from Otago was immediately booked for a circuit, including all the centres from Waiau to Wakan and Scargill. Miss Grocott has since started work, with seven study groups, having a minimum attendance of 63 students. The next district visited was that lying between Rangiora and Springfield. Again the interest was so great that a tutor was requested forthwith, and a strong committee set up to canvas for members to fill up all the classes. Since the visit, eight fully enrolled classes have ben formed. Some rather important meetings in Christchurch and the vicinity came next, and then, making a centre of activities, visits were paid to all the surrounding districts, with excellent results. Next a move was made to South Canterbury, and the biggest meeting of the tour was held in Temuka, when some 200 interested persons attended. The working of_ the A.C.E. movement was fully described, acting as it does as_ a channel for bringing advice, inspiration, and instruction from educational centres to the country. Any individual may become an A.C.E. member, which entitles him or her to make personal inquiries, to borrow the reference material, to use the collection of periodicals, and to receive the quarterly news sheet. The box system may be used by which ready-prepared lectures may be sent to study groups; the library scheme taken advantage of for sending hampers of worthwhile books to groups of library subscribers, and drama _ and home science tutors may be utilised.