THE CHAUTAUQUA MOVEMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1918, Page 10

THE CHAUTAUQUA MOVEMENT

COMING TO TARANAKI. Miss Janet Young, from The Dalles (Oregon), in America, an official representative of the Chautauqua movement, is in town for the purpose of submitting a proposal to bring the Chautauqua to New Plymouth. The term "Chautauqua" is taken from the Indian name V a lake in New York, where, SO years ago, the first gathering of the kind was held. The Chautauqua is an educational movement whose aim is to give the public the opportunity of hearing artists on the platlorui, wiio otherwise would be known to the people onlv in name.

The Chautauqua extends over a period of a week in each town, a different programme being given each afternoon and evening. The primary object of the Ci'autauqua is service to the community, and, in America and Canada, where In,ooo such gatherings were held last year, with an attendance of 47,000,000 people, it is regarded as next in importance fo the universities and other educational forces. The talent a?e all professionals in their particular lines, from all over the world. The lecture subjects discussed on the Chautauqua platform are all big questions of the day which affect the community morally and socially. and they are treated from nonsectarian and non-partisan points of view. In the words of President Wilson, "it has done more to mobilise the minds of the people and to produco united action than any other institution." Mr. Theodore Pjiosevelt ealls it "the handmaiden of democracy and the people's university." It is necessary, in order to establish this movement locally, to get the endorsement of 30 or more representative citizens, who will co-operate with the Chautauqua Association in the sale of (iOO season tickets, which is tlio extent of the guarantee required. A ten-shil-ling adult ticket admits one -holder to all sessions, both afternoon and evening, for gi\> days. Tickets for children and High School pupils can be secured for 4s and (is. The sessions are held in a large I canvas tent with a seating capacity for 20GO. Any town with a population of 1 1000 can conduct a successful Chaut.auIqua; indeed, in America it is a regular feature of the life of much smaller communities, thanks to the organisation which has been built up. As. the New York Tribune puts it: — "Tile Chautauqua is a non-partisan propagandas institution, an open-air fforuma recreational centre, a concert hall, an educational bureau, and a lecture platform carrying tb% highest type of culture from town to town. Requests came from various points in Canada last year for a Chautauqua, and in answer the Chautauqua was extended to 47 towns. This ycr Canada has 500 Chautauqua. Tiie requests came for an extension to Australia, and from various points in New Zealand. The answer is in the form of advance pioneers from America to start a Chautauqua for New Zealand and Australia.