WORKERS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2121, 29 April 1920, Page 3

WORKERS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

The following- report is to be presented at the annual meeting of the Branch to bo held in the Council Chambers on Saturday next, at 8 pan.:— “Your Class Committee has much pleasure in submitting its first annual report of the activities of the Workers’ Educational Tutorial Class for the year ending December 31st, 1919. ’hie local operations ofj.be W.E.A. commenced with a public lecture on the aims and possibilities of the Association, by Professor T. A. Hunter, at the beginning of March, 191!). A local eomnilltee consisting of His Worship the Mayor (Mr 3. Chrystall), Dr. Mandl, and Messrs L. J. Eurrie, E. Rowlatt, and E. (1. Alexander, were appirtnted at (he meeting- to inaugurate the classes under the auspices of the W.E.A. in Eoxton.' Thanks to the splendid financial aid provided by many local

gentlemen :md firms, the sum of £55 Is was raised. This relieved the Committee of all financial worries for the first, year, and placed the class upon a sound footing. Mr G. M. Henderson, M.A., of Ohau, was appointed tutor by the. Tutorial Class Committee of Wellington, and the lectures opened with a class membership of 26. The subjects chosen was Economics, with 12 pre-' paratory lectures in Industrial History. ’ The average attendance of the classes was 13, and the effective membership 19, including all classes of the community. A splendid library on historical, economic and financial matters was established in Qonneetion with the class, and members availed themselves fully of the opportunities provided for obtaining authoritative information on many matters pertaining to the subjects under discussion. A fine book-case was made and presented to the class by Mr A. Man toll, and. Mr H. F. Gabites volunteered to act as librarian. The thanks of the class are due to each of these gentlemen for the assistance given. The class met once a week, on Friday evenings, from 7.30 til! 9;so o’clock, the first hour being devoted to the lecture by 'the tutor, and the next hour to discussion on any controversial mattors introduced by the lecturer. All pay a tribute to Mr Henderson for the fair and moderate views enunciated in his lectures on a subject which at the present time gives a lecturer so much opportunity for adding personal colour to his teaching. This Mr Henderson studiously avoided, and dealt with the matter ina classical manner, laying the foundation for individual thought and' elaboration of'ideas, based upon the economic laws founded upon past experience, together ■ with the now ideas generated by economic' problems of the recent war. While we congratulate Mr Henderson upon his appointment as Native School Inspector, we regret that his new dalles mean the severance of his connection .will) tin; class, and the appointment of a new lecturer in his slead will need to he made hy the Tutorial Class Committee, which is composed of representatives of the W.E.A. and of the University College Council. The class receipts for the year totalled £OO 16s od, made up of donations £55 Is od, and annual suhseriptions £o 15s Od. To meet the expenses of I he tutor and library the sum of £55 os 3d was forwarded to the Registrar of Victoria College. This amount will he subsidised / hy the Government to assist the operations of the Association, and the unexpended portion frill be credited to our class for 1920. Other expenditure items were: Gas £1 Is od, cleaning £2 17s (hi (23 weeks at 2s (id), lit tings, postage, stationery, exchange, etc., £1 2s sd, dr. text hooks 6s od. The unexpended balance was forwarded to the Regisirar, and is included in flic £55 5s 3d mentioned above. It is understood that al present a credit balance of between £2O and £3O iV in the hands of the Registrar of Victoria. College.' The thanks of the class arc tendered to the following gentlemen, firms and publie bodies for suhseriptions: — Messrs J. Chrystall, Dr. Maud!, E. Newman, M.P., Frank Robinson, John Robinson, Will. Dock, Alt:. Fraser, J. MeColl, D. Ogilvie, Chas. Robinson, Win. Ross, Walter Barber, F. D. Whibley, M. Ferreatt, Levin & Co. (A.M. Ivellow), C. M. Ross Co., Ltd. (per D. Christie), Pearson & Head, .Barr & Tver, Foxton Cordage Coy. (per A. W. Pearsou), Foxton Racing Club, N.Z. Shipping Co. (per F. Aloorhouse), '.Foxton Chamber of ' Commerce, Foxtou Borough Council, ;Foxton Labour Party, Manawattt County Council. The Committee of the Class also wish to thank the Foxton Borough Council for the manner in v’hich it assisted the class by allowing the use of the Council Chamber, u better'room than which it would he hard to find. It is intended ..during the coming year to extend the activities of the local branch of the W.E.A. hy providing public lectures on matters o.f interest. In this connection it is very proba’ble that we may he favoured with lectures by Professor Hunter, of Wellington, and Mr Leigh Hunt, President of (lie Wellington Town Planning and Electors’ Association. The provision of lectures such ns will be delivered by these gentlemen falls within the province of the W.E.A. In fact, the activities of the Association are now covering a much wider field than that to which the Workers’ Educational Association originally restricted itself. In New 1 Zoa- • land the classes conducted by theW.E.A. have admitted anybody willing to take the course, and have encouraged representatives of different sections of opinion to state and defend their contention.-. The ' results have been most promising, and have shown the scope and need for it broad educational programme towards whiclMhe Workers’ Educational Associatnon can render a distinctive service,. The nature of its programme will he based on the following considerations: —(1) The essential condition of success for a democracy is that it shall be educated; (2) the complexity of the modern social machine demands an increasingly high degree of intelligence among those who direct it, and among all citizens; (3) the feature of the W.E.A. programme should therefore be education in citizenship; (I) it Van provide a single organisation jvithin which al! sections of opinion can meet, study social problems in common under tutors of University qualification, and by frank discussion eliminate many differences, clearly define others, and lessen sectional bitterness. With the enunciation of this programme of the Association's work, little argument should be needed to cou-

vine 6 the public of the worthiness of the cause they are asked to support. The branch appeals to all who so generously supported its:operations last year to extend the same valuable assistance for the coming session. Public support and confidence is necessary for the continuance of our work, and in asking for such \Ve feel we are doing so in the interests of the civic life of our town and district.”