The New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1915. THE SOCIAL STUDY SCHEME

New Zealand Tablet, 10 June 1915, Page 33

T he New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1915. THE SOCIAL STUDY SCHEME

— . *S~i*£) OMEWIIAT over a year ago, it will be (vS||>* remembered, we introduced into New Zearss|3o\ land the admirable social study scheme *&£5S22; inaugurated by the Catholic Social Guild of England ; and last year examinations were ,sft £, held in the Dominion with highly gratifying and successful results. As has been already briefly intimated in our columns, the Executive of the Federated Catholic Clubs of New Zealand have now officially taken Tip the scheme ; and, in conjunction with ourselves, will carry out the work of holding the examinations in this country. The object of the scheme, as we have before explained, is to promote amongst our Catholic people a close and definite study of the social question, and to educate them in the true principles of social economics as viewed and interpreted by the best Catholic authorities. To attain this purpose, a carefully-thought-out syllabus and a most excellent series of text-books have been prepared. Three courses of study have been mapped out, and each course is divided into two stages, each of which covers one year's work. For the present we are concerned only with the first course, Economic Theory, which comprises the two stages, Elementary and Advanced. The text-book for the Elementary examination is A rimer of Social Science, by the Right Rev. Mgr. Parkinson—an altogether admirable publication, which both young and old may read with interest and profit. The books of reference recommended for collateral study are The Science of Wealth, by J. A. Hobson : Social Duties of Catholics, by C. S. Devas; and the Encyclicals of Leo XIII., published under the title, The Pope and the People. For the Advanced stage of Economic Theory the text-book is the well-known masterly work on Political Economy by C. S. Devas. The young man or woman who goes through even the first elementary course will have gained a sound knowledge of general economic principles which will serve as an excellent foundation for wider and more extended study. The candidate who masters Devas's fine work will have covered the whole field of social economy under the direction of a wise and prudent and at the same time open-minded and progressive guide. In addition to the text-book a number of useful works of reference are recommended for supplementary study. Besides these regular courses, two new alternative courses have recently been issued— syllabus on ' Land/ and a syllabus for a course of reading and study on ' War : Its Moral and Social Aspects.' We are not aware whether either of these courses will be available for New Zealand candidates this year, but we will know definitely when the books which have been ordered come to hand.

... As we have already explained in these columns, the Board of Examiners consists of well-known and recognised authorities on social and economic subjects; and the examination questions are set as follows: —On© half on the given text-book and the other half on the books recommended for a collateral course of study. Any student who has passed-in either an Elementary or Advanced Course of any one Study-subject is entitled to a Pass any student who has obtained Passes in the Elementary and Advanced Courses of any one Studysubject is entitled to a Certificate; and any student who has obtained Certificates for all three Courses A, B, and Cis entitled to a Diploma. The Executive of the Federated Catholic Clubs have ordered a supply of the text-books, both Elementary and Advanced ; and these will be obtainable only from the secretary of the Executive, and not from the Tablet office as hitherto. The books are due to arrive about the end of July or early in August. Subject to the approval of the Guild, the date of the examination will be fixed by the Editor of the Tablet, and will be as nearly as possible six clear months after the books are in the hands of our students. This would bring the date somewhere about the end of February or beginning of March. Full particulars as to the arrival of the books and date of examination will be given in due course in our columns. Intending candidates are requested to send in their names at earliest convenience to the Executive Secretary, to the following address;—Mr. T. 11. Forster, Secretary Federated Catholic Chibs, 15 Kensington street, Wellington. Any applications sent to us will be duly forwarded to the Executive Secretary; but as all orders for books must be made to that officer, it would simplify matters if all applications were sent direct to him. Applications should in all cases be accompanied by the prescribed entrance fee of one shilling, which will be forwarded by, the Executive to the Guild, and which must be paid to the latter body before the candidate is eligible to sit for examination. The examination questions, while adequate in scope and fairly covering the prescribed ground, are not really difficult or formidable. Of the nine New Zealand candidates who entered last year, eight secured a pass, and the ninth missed success only by the narrowest of margins. In acknowledging receipt of their certificates, almost all the candidates wrote to express the pleasure and profit they had received from the definite and systematic study of the great question of the day, and their unalloyed satisfaction at having taken up such extremely interesting and valuable work. Several of last year’s candidates have already intimated their intention of proceeding to the advanced course this year. Although the candidates this year will probably be drawn mostly from the ranks of our Catholic Clubs, the examinations are, as we have before indicated, open to every Catholic man and woman without restriction or limitation of any kind. We hope and believe that the members of the societies affiliated to the Federated Catholic Clubs of New Zealand others outside the ranks —will take up the social study project with energy and spirit. This is the day of small things, but a successful beginning has been made ; and we believe that, with patience and enthusiasm, the time is not far distant when the Catholic social study scheme, with its immense possibilities for good, will have secured a firm and sure footing in our Dominion.