WORKERS EDUCATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 66, 17 March 1916, Page 3

WORKERS EDUCATION.

AUCKLAND ASSOCIATIONS' WORK. A YEAR'S PROGRESS. A well-attended meeting of the district council of the Workers' Educational Association was held in the Traded Hall last evening. Mr. H. J. Cousins, M.A., 'president of the Association, was in the chair. The principal business of the meeting was the adoption of the first animal report of the Association. This ; report, which is presented in the form of an attractive booklet, containing reports from the Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invereargill centres, as well as an account of the activities of the Association in Auckland, will be circulated amongst students of the W.E.A. and others interested in the work. It shows the remarkable success with which the Association has met. in epite of the troublesome times in which it commenced activities in New Zealand. The report was adopted unanimously and with applause. The Association met with one disappointment, in that the Government were unable to render it any financial assistance. This matter wa3 discussed, and it was resolved that the different centres of the Association should be asked to again approach the Government asking for financial assistance. Several speakers expressed the opinion that when the report was in the hands of Ministers and members of Parliament, they would realise the good work the Association was doing, and would see that the Association got the support from the State which it deserves.

The support which the Association ha* received from various sources, including a grant of .£IOO from the Auckland City Council, is acknowledged in the report.

The meeting decided unanimously to place on record its high appreciation of the valuable assistance rendered to t!ie Association by Mr. Manson, the Af»ocia> tion's untiring hon. secretary, speakers stating that, in their opinion, the success of the movement in Auckland was largely due to his efforts.

It was decided that a picnic should lie organised by the Association for April 1. and suggr-stcd that it take the form of an excursion to Rangitoto, and that an endeavour be made to get some author ity to explain to those who go with the picnic something of the volcanic action .of the past, which is in no small way responsible for the present beauty of Auckland and its surroundings. It was also decided that a W.E.A. conference be held in Auckland during Easter week, and that two evenings during the conference be set aside for the delivery of papers on important topics, to lie followed by discussion of the subject on the lines of the Association's tutorial classes, those to be open to the public. Final arrangements for this and for the picnic were left in the hands of the executive. Delegates were aleo appointed to visit unions and other bodies with a view to enlisting their support, and getting more students for the classes. Arrangements for the commencement of the tutorial classes are well in hand, and it is hoped that they will commence work about the middle of April.

. In closing the, meeting >Jr.. Cousins said that the interest and enthusiasm displayed by the large number who had attended was a good omen for the future success of the Association in Auckland.

At a well-attended meeting lield in the Scottish Hall. Gieborne. on Wednesday evening, it was resolved to form a branch of the Workers' Educational Aβeociation.