PENWOMEN'S CLUB.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 83, 8 April 1933, Page 13

PENWOMEN'S CLUB.

"The future of civilisation means voluntary co-operation," said Mr. E. J. Bror Mueller, during his lecture on "Danish Folk Schools" to the Penwomen's Club on Friday afternoon. The speaker drew parallels between the state of Denmark 80 years ago when folk schools were first established and the condition of New Zealand to-day. To satisfy an awakening desire for culture in young people of 18 years and over was the ideal of Bishop Grundtvig, who opened the first school. To-day there are over 60 in Denmark, and the yearly attendance is over 10,000. The schools are residential and are held for a course for six months, the instruction being purely cultural. A result of the system is to produce the spirit of co-operation which is evident in the strength of the voluntary co-operative societies throughout the country. The movement has spread over Scandinavia to Britain, and the United States, and there is also a school outside Tokyo, in Japan. In the beginning the folk schools in Denmark were not helped by the State, but at the present time over 1,000,000 crowns is paid annually towards their support. Mr. Mueller advocated the founding of a similar movement in this country. "In such times of stress," said the speaker, "young people would inevitably awaken to the need for intellectual interests." The president, Mrs. Carr-Rollett, presided. Miss Hewson gave two pianoforte solos. The new Glee Club, under Miss Amy Hansard, held its first meeting and promises to be very popular.