WORKERS’ EDUCATION

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 81, 27 June 1927, Page 12

WORKERS’ EDUCATION

ADDITIONAL GRANTS WANTED APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT (THE SUN'S Parliamentary Keporter .) WELLINGTON, Saturday. Additional Government assistance for the Workers' Educational Association was sought by a deputation representative of the fobr centres which waited upon the Hons. R. A. Vi/right and R. F. Bollard to-day. MR- H- 11. ACLAND, Dominion PreA sident, pleaded the cause of the Workers Educational Association, and said if the Government were to be a success the governing classes must have knowledge of the conditions of government, especially with respect to economic and other subjects. State aid was sought so that adult education could be fostered in order to overtake the loss sustained by those who were unable to receive higher education in their youth. Although New Zealand possessed more students in proportion to. its population than any other country, the Government and University last year assisted the movement only up to £4O a class.

Mr. Wright: "What is the trouble now?

Mr. Acland: We are short of money. We have had to stop some of the classes in Canterbury through this. There are 464 students in Canterbury and 995 in Wellington drawn from every kind of vocation, chiefly from manual workers.

Mr. Wright: What has brought about this reduction in classes? Mr. Acland: We have a greater demand for classes, but no more funds to meet them. Addressing himself to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Acland asked for legislation to allow local bodies to contribute to the W.E.A. funds. Mr. B. Martin, Auckland, said tiiat in the Northern city expenditure exceeded income by £166 last year through increased classes. This year classes had been cut down. Mr. Wright said there was no controversy upon the general endeavour to educate every member of the community. Mr. Acland had said the Government grant reached £4,900, but with subsidies this reached £6,136 Finance was the problem for his fund was attacked from the front, rear and both sides, and he ha<j to see that weaker causes got some crumbs from the rich man’s table. A line must be drawn somewhere because it would he impossible to form classes upon every conceivable subject and expect State aid for every one. He promised to put the matter before Cabinet. however, and see what could be done. “You cannot get all you want,” he added.

Mr. Bollard promised support to Mr. Wright in securing additional assistance. The Minister for Finance held the purse-strings, however. If Cabinet was agreeable to legislation he would see that it went ahead.