THE W.E.A.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10610, 8 June 1920, Page 6

THE W.E.A.

COUNTRY DEVELOPMENT. There is a steadily growing demand among many sections of the community that the university should extend tho influence of its teaching beyond its own four walls. This demand is particularly keen from the country centres, which are relatively cut off from any cultural university influences except sucli as return to rhem with the professional element which it is at present the main function of the university to train. Mr D. J. R- Seymour has just returned from an organising visit on behalf of tho W.E.A. to Taranaki. Speaking to a "New Zealand Times” reporter, ho stated that many country centres are most anxious to embark upon W.E.A. classes. In Now Plymouth tho trades unions had applied for a class in economics, and in Haweri). tho Farmers’ Union was laying plans for classes for the study of economic and social questions. 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 waiting to undertake a class in economics. At New Plymouth the Hon. C. J. Parr had attended the inaugural meeting, and had warmly commended the work. He particularly stressed tho 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 nocessitv for adult education. In regard to the university, Mr Parr stated that there was not such -a great gulf between it and tho common people; ho instanced tho case of an Auckland W.E.A. class which had come under his notice, where tho rank and file in the class met on common ground with a university professor for the promotion of tho social and intellectual good of the community. Mr Seymour is 'leaving shortly for Napier, Hastings, Dannevirkc, and Woodville. Ho is then holding further public meetings in Taranaki, and will return via the Wairarapa.