EMPIRE PARLIAMENTARIANS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 November 1924, Page 14

EMPIRE PARLIAMENTARIANS.

SOUTH AFBIOAN TOUB

, howabd on adult EDUCATION. PIETEBM A BITZBUBG, Sept. 22. •di 1 r s to ' Je regretted,” says the 'Friend of September 18. that Mr F, J. Howard, member of the Few Zealand House of Bepresentatives for Christchurch. South, who is travelling with the Empire Parliamentary Delegation, was unable, owino- to the shortness of his visit to Bloemfontein, to address a public meeting; out he gave some useful information to the chairman and secretary of the local braiich of the Workers’ - Educational Association.

Mr. Howard stated that the movement for adult - education was in & very healthy state in New Zealand. The Dominion Government gave a grant qf ,£3OOO. per annum.. and. all 'cost! bodies assisted financially. They were able to pay. their secretary £3OO per annum, and to remunerate their lecturers from £2O to • £6O, according to the number of lectures given. They conducted courses on various: subjects throughout the year', ‘particularly in social economics, psysiology and psychology;, , They held, summer schools, which were attended, and combined physical recreation with mental education. They also held courses on agricultural subjects during the winter for the benefit of the formers, who at that time were not overburdened with work, and we re able to attend. Mr. Howard admitted that there were certain obstacles in South Africa for the movement to progress at the same rate as in New Zealand; such as there being two European races in the Union speaking different languages, and the fact that communities dwelt SO' far apart. Then there was no industrial class in South Africa similar to that in New Zealand, as practically all the Unskilled work was performed by the native. There was, therefore, not the same, incentive for education in South Africa. But the demand would come when the conditions altered. He advised that the "movement be kept alive by propaganda, as every organisation had its early struggles. The lion, member for Christchurch South pointed out that there was a population of 1,300,000 in New Zealand, purely European and speaking the same language, and 33,000 Maoris, the latter being in the same stage of development, although there was social distinction. Mr. Howard considered that New Zealand was the mostprogressive and prosperous colony under the British Crown.