AIMS AND IDEALS OF THE W.E.A.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 129, 2 June 1922, Page 9

AIMS AND IDEALS OF THE W.E.A.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LUNCHEON. There wag a large attendance at the luncheon of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce to-day, when an interesting address was delivered by Mr. L. A. Mander, M.A., lecturer undeT the auspices of the Workers' Educational Association, who recently arrive 4 from South Australia. The Hon. George Fowld«, who presided, introduced the speaker. Among the guests of the Chamber was Sir .lohu Luke, M.P. for Wellington North. The chairman said the Workers' Educational Association was very often misconstrued to mean something that was not intended. It was regarded by certain sections of both Labour and Capital with a certain amount of suspicion. He commended the work of the association to the 'business community of Auckland.

"There is a tendency to-day to sneer at culture," said Mr. Mander. "John Bright's famous sneer, that culture consisted of a smattering of Greelc and Latin, could be applied to the outlook of a good many people to-day. Although production had considerably increased during the past 100 years, we were no nearer the millennium. Education must do two things—first transmit, then interpret life. We could not 'be too careful in keeping in view of ourselves the central idea of lif«. This wa.s very often lost sight of by individuals, parties, and nations.

He proceeded to remove certain misapprehensions that existed regarding the ideals of the W.E.A., and emphasised the importance of the work being carried out under its auspices, emphasising particularly the teaching of literature, economies, and history. No one. could realise the big problems of today, he said, unless a certain amoujit of knowledge had been imbued concerning their origin. ''Our outlook is primarily ethetieal and epiritual, - ' he concluded, "and wo l>o!on£ to no political purtv." lie inferred, however, that if occasion arose they would criticise any political party thai required it.