THE W.E.A.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2291, 18 June 1921, Page 1

THE W.E.A.

The withdrawal of the subsidy to the W.E.A. by (he Palmerston North Borough Council has provoked a vigorous protest on the part of a certain section of the community, says the M.D. Times. A public meeting that was called for the purpose of discussing the methods, of the Association was made the occasion for an attack upon the Council, but no serious attempt was made to prove that the W.E.A. was abovo suspicion, or that its propaganda was not of a dangerous type. If was staled that members of the. Technical School Board had attended the class on one occasion, and had discovered nothing objectionable in the teaching. This may be perfectly true. But that suspicions have been aroused is evident from the investigations of the Technical Board, from the reported speeches of the tutor, from the action of the Borough Council and from the calling of a meeting of citizens (i, consider the situation. The Borough Council represents the whole of the ratepayers, and it is not entitled to expend its revenues upon! educational or oilier institutions I hat arc supported by only a small section of the community. When the W.E.A. can show that it is conferring a boon upon the whole of the ratepayers, that its teachings 'are calculated to produce good citi< zenship, and that there is no possibility of dangerous Communistic principles being advocated, il may establish its claim to a renewal of the subsidy from the Borough Council.