W.E.A. SUMMER SCHOOL

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 1, 3 January 1933, Page 8

W.E.A. SUMMER SCHOOL

POST-WAR GERMANY. MODERN LITERATURE. Two widely different aspects of German life were discussed by lecturers at the W.E.A. Summer School course on "Modern Germany" at Paerata on Satur. day and Sunday. Dr. J. C. Beaglehole, speaking on Saturday on "The Political Reconstruction of Germany," revieived the counterrevolutions faced by the new republic in its early days in 1919 and 1920, through the invasion of the Ruhr in 1923, the entry into the League of Nations, and the rise of Hitler's party, the Nazis. He said that the policy of fulfilment had proved itself a right policy, because it showed that the Versailles Treaty was impossible. By the Locarno-.Pact, Germany agreed to take the result of the war as final. Speaking on the subject of "German Literature Since the War," Professor G. W. von Zedlitz, of Wellington, said that the leading characteristic was the theme of conflict between f&'cher and son, a variation of the conflict between youth and authority in all its forms. The rebellion was stronger there than elsewhere, because of the revolt from militarism, which existed before the war, but was intensified by the war. Literature Course. The influence of the new spirit in literature expressed in biography and in historical works was the theme of two lectures.

Professor von Zedlitz stated that the writing of biography must necessarily reveal the personality of the author, as every prominent man was viewed differently by his friends, his enemies, by himself, by children and by the public. Out of a variety of conscientious views from all kinds of people, the biographer made up the real man, but in so doing he really presented his own viewpoint. Last century, said the Professor, biography was hack work, like translation, but there are many excellent biographies available to-day, written by a better stamp of writer. Lyttoa Strachey broke new ground with his methods, and aimed at claiming the respect J:'or his characters in more solid fashion than the old biographers. Mr. J. O. Shearer, M.A., speaking on the new spirit in history, referred to the influence of the growth of the new sciences, such as anthropology ,psychology and sociology on the writing of history, and the changes in thought and institutions. He commented that the popular histories, typified by the works of H. G. Wells, were of an importance that could hardly be over-estimated. "Tariffs" was 'the subject dealt with by Mr. H. R. Rodwell, M.A., at the usual evening cours.e on economics on Saturday. He considered that it would be a .serious mistake for Few Zealand to sacrifice her natural advantages in climate and fertility merely because there was at present a depression in agriculture and farming. He declared that with tariffs effete, industries were bolstered up at the expense of the whole community. Other Activities. On Saturday evening members of the W.E.A. dramatic group gave a_ brilliant performance of the play, "Once in a Lifetime." The light satirical naturalism of this play of Hollywood and the talkies was appreciated and enjoyed by a packed audience. New Year's Eve was celebrated with traditional jollity and ceremony, followed by a gay. dance. There have also been informal lectures on poetry and music, and a display 01 some forty large posters from Soviet Russia, explained by Dr. Fisher. On Sunday evening the students attended divine service in the Paerata college chapel, when the sermon was preached by the college principal, Mr. R. C. Clark, M.A.