SUMMER SCHOOL

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 3, 5 January 1928, Page 3

SUMMER SCHOOL

CAMP AT HAMILTON. PLEASURE AND INSTRUCTION. A happy party of students has returned from Hamilton, where they have been attending the second summer school organised by the Auckland district of the Workers' Educational Association. The campers were housed in the buildings of the Hamilton Technical High School, and were granted the use of the beautifully-planted grounds of the adjacent Hamilton High School, where in fine weather many of the lectures were held. The school was under the direction of Dr. H. Belshaw, Professor of Economics at Auckland, assisted by Mr. N. M. Richmond, Director of the YV.E.A., as secretary. The central subject of study, "Democracy—lts Strength, Weakness and Promise," provided material for keen discussion. A series of lectures by Rev. W. Jellie on the life, times and work of the poet Dante was much appreciated, especially since it emphasised the important place which the study of poetry must take in any adult education movement which seeks to educate the whole man. The study of contemporary social questions was pursued in the course by Professor Belshaw on "Economic Problems of To-day, with Special Reference to New Zealand." A particularly fine lecture was given one evening by Rev. W. G. Monckton on "Greece and Rome — Their Influence on the Present Day." Another special lecture discussion was that on "Employee Partnership," when Messrs. H. Valder and F. Harty explained the theory and practice of "labour shares" in industrial enterprises, as a contribution towards solving the problem of labour and capital. This latter evoked one of the most searching discussioos of the camp, from which lecturers and hearers alike profited. Several enoyable excursions were made in the afternoons. In so far as these had an object, it was to gain an impression of the dairying industry in the Waikato, as one of its principal homes. Visits were made to the Ruaknra State Farm, to Mr. C. V. Carryer's milk bottling plant, and Mr. R. J. Tiddy's pedigree Jersey herd at Rukuhia (from which the former is served), and to the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company's butter factory at Frankton. A most successful day was spent at Arapuni, where the party was shown round by the engineer in charge of dam construction, Mr. A. Lush. Otherwise the afternoons were free and easy, with tennis, swimming, etc. The evenings were no less enjoyably and profitably spent. The formal opening by the Mayor of Hamilton (Mr. J. R. Fow) was the means of making the W.E.A. movement better known to many residents of the district. The speakers of the evening included the Hon. J. A. Young, Mr. Lee Martin, M.P., Mr. F. L. Brewer, Mr. P. B. Cavan (representing the Frankton rail way men), and Pro" fessor Belshaw. One evening's entertainment was organised by the men campers, and included a clever parodv of the principal lecturers by Mr. P. Boorman. Several readings of short plays were also given on various evenings, while most of the programmes were enlivened by the efforts of the "world's worst" male quartet.