AIMS DEFENDED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 94, 20 April 1940, Page 13

AIMS DEFENDED.

| THE W.E.A. MOVEMENT. I , "NO PARTY ENDS OF ANY KIND." (From O.ir <'\vll Correspondent.* DUXEDIX, this day. A sequel to the •Communist hunt" initiated by the Returned Soldiers' Association "last week was the vigorous defence of the Worker-.' Educational Association by Mr. W. J. Morrell (chancellor) at a "meeting of the University Council. Mr. Morrell declared lhat Uncharges made against the association comprised a reflection on public intelligence, and were born of ignorance. Mr. Morrell said the charges made were general and vague, and were the result of a good deal of misconception. The W.E.A., he said, was simply all organisation for adult education, founded in England some 30 years ago by the joint action of trader unionists, co-operators and university authorities. Men of the highest eminence had been and were connected with it, and its work had received endorsement from successive Ministers of Education. Locally it had proceeded on similar lines. Its objects were purely educational, and it had no party ends of any kind. He could not, of course, speak from personal knowledge of every lecture given. But, having for many years been closely connected with its administration, he could from personal knowledge say that the association was most certainly not a subversive organisation, as had mistakenly been stated. The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, the Veil. Archdeacon Whitehead and Mr. J. T. Paul had been closely connected with its work, and still held office in the association. His predecessors, Sir T. K. Sidey and Dr. Andrew Cameron, had also held such office.

In the association's classes, Mr. Morrell continued, students of very various views were to be found. The aim was the impartial diffusion of knowledge and search for truth. Free discussion was a feature of the classes, and it was possible that this had given occasion for some misunderstanding. But having been in close and frequent touch with successive directors and tutor-organisers, he had confidence in their carrying out of the work on the lines stated. The chancellor's championship of the association was approved by the council.