WORKERS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2138, 10 June 1920, Page 2

WORKERS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

COUNTRY DEVELOPMENT,

That (he university should extend the influence of its leaching beyond its own four walls is a stead-ily-growing demand among many sections of the community, and by none more so than by the country centres which are relatively cut off from any cultural university influences exeepl such as return to them with the professional element which it is at- present the main function of the university to train.

Mr D. .1. B. Seymour lias just returned from an organising visit on behalf of the W.E.A. to Mamiwalu ami Taranaki, lie stales that many

country centres are most anxious to embark upon W.E.A. classes, in New Plymouth the trades unions had applied for a class in Economies, and in Hawera the Farmers’ Union was laying plans for classes for the study of economic and social uucstiuus. In Stratford, the members of a men’s club had interested themselves in W.E.A. classes, and in Wanganui fifteen men from the .Railway'Workshops were wailing to undertake a class in Economics.

In New Plymouth the Hon. C. .1. Parr had attended (he inaugural meeting, and had warmly commended the work. He particularly stressed the point that education does not end at school. The people of England had discovered by themselves that this was so, and New Zealand was also awakening to the necessity for adult education. In regard to the university, Mr' Parr slated that (here was not such a great gulf between it and the common people, and instanced the ease of an Auckland W.E.A. class which had come under his notice, where the rank and file in the class met on common ground with a university professiy for the promotion of the social and intellectual good of the community. The prospects for the Foxton’s second session in Economics are > bright. The meeting on Monday evening was well .attended by men anl women of all shades of opinion. The tdass will he representative of all interests in, the (own, and the discussion period following each lecture should lead to an interesting interchange of views from different standpoints. The secretary wishes In acknowledge with thanks the receipt of donations from the Manawatu Counly Council (3 3s), and Air A, Eraser (£1 Is).