THE W.E.A.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17248, 12 September 1921, Page 11

THE W.E.A.

future of the movement, university senate's attitude »t the last session of the Senate of (.fee University of New Zealand, a Special committee was set up to visit tfcevarious Workers' Educational AsEeciation classes throughout the Dominion, and report to tho Senate upon the work of the Association. 'Tfoe members of the Senate deputed to report upon the work of the Association "in the South Island were: Dr. Cameron, Chancellor of the University, B nd the Hon. J. A. Hanan, M.P., formerly Minister of Education. Dr. Cameron and Mr Hanan arrived in Christchurch last week, after visiting the various W.E.A. centres from InyercargiU northwards. On Friday, in the Professorial Board room at Canterbury College, they met tho tutors of the Christchurch W.E.A. classes, when a full discission took place on the work and needs of tho .Association. Dr. Chilton, rector of Canterbury College, presided and there were also present Air J. C. Adams, a member of tho Canterbury College Board of Governors, and also of the New Zealand University Senate, and the following tutors of classes being conducted by the Association: Miss N. M. Bruce, M.A. (economics for women); Professor Shellov (modern drams and industrial psychology); Professor Condliffe (economics, and special research class); Air Kirkpatrick (economics); Mr L. &■ Strachan (music and glee singing), and &r 0. iManning (organising secretary of the Association). Apologies were received for the absence of the Rev. Jonn Paterson and Air A. H. Tocker. Dr. Cameron, on behalf of Otago Unirersity, congratulate* Dr. Chilton on his appointment as rector of Canterbury College. He outlined the nature and scope of the investigation which the committee was making, reading a lengthy list of questions, answers to which it was hoped would be placed before the Senate at its next session. The committee, he said. wa» not out on a heresy hunt." The Senate realised the value of the work the Association was doing, and wished to help the movement in every possible way. It was with a vj.ew to finding out how the Senate could best further the work of the Association that the special committee had been get up. The Hon. J. A. Hanan congratulated •Professor Shelley on his appointment as Professor of Education at Canterbury College. He endorsed what Dr. Cameron had said regarding the Senate's attitude towards the Workers' Educational Association movement. He , outlined his views on the future of the adult education movement, expressing the opinion that more stress should be. laid on the better education of the adult. What was needed in the Dominion was a co-ordination of the variSius educational activities, (thus ensurng thorough education from childhoocV to the adult stage. The tutors then outlined the. work being done in the'vanous olasseß, indicating the occupations of those attending, the interest the members Bhowed in the work; and their comprehension of the subjects which they were study-

Professor Shelley snoke in high terms of praise of'the' members of the Industrial Psychology class, stating that among toe members were men who could discuss the most "abstruse problems. Some of them were probably among the most learned psychologists in Canterbury, if not in the-Dominion.: pf. PrrfeHsdf.Condliffe stated that lack ' of finance was the principal difficulty the Association- had to cope with. ; Tutors were available, but there Was ' not the money to pay their salaries. t . Some of the tutors were not being paid the .salaries which their work and the size of their classes entitled them to. The work of educating the students jras being hampered, by the fact that the tutor* were already overburdened with their, ordinary duties. If funds were available, whole-time tutors could be appointed, who would be able to deVote all their time to educating students., There should be a wholetime tutor in . Canterbury conducting classes- from, say, Timaru to Chnstchurch, and another from Christchurch .northwards. He urged Dr. Cameron and Mr Hanan to impress upon the Senate the need for granting tne Association adequate financial assistance to help- 'it to carry out. .the work it: was doing. The Association was helping theJuniversity, for' a number of its students were now. as a result of their training in W.E.A. classes, attending kcjrares at the various University Col--4608, Professor Shelley, in outlining the ,work of the drama class, said there was a tendency in modern education not to place sufficient value on the arts. The Very large attendance at the drama class showed that tho people desired itiua thus of education. Mr Strachan outlined the function, of, music in education, 'expressing the opinion that the foundation for a broad I musical culture should be laid in tho I primary sohools.

"" At "W conclusion of tie conference. 1 Xte Cameron and Mr Hanan expressed - u their appreciation of the work being by the Association in Canterbury, > tad congratulated the-tutors on the ',' MDbMa which they had achieved with 5? their classes. - . V la the erenine Dr. Cameron and M* „ Hanan visited the music olass, where toe members sang. a.number of part- - songs and folk-songs. Mr Strachaii "■ gsre a lecture on the life and works of Mtaphv musical interpretations of the v t\ .composer's, works being given by some >of the world's greatest pianists per f ;tl» medium of a gramophone' supplied r;hy Messrs Webley, Sons, and Gorton. the conclusion of the lecture "V both Or. Cameron and Mr Hanan con- < gratulated the class on their singing, / and the tutor on his Interesting leciMr Hanan said that he and Dr. Cameron had visited W.E.A. classes 'from Invercargill to. Cbristchurch-r what they had heard that evening, however, set the coping-stone on the f k- Work the Association was doing. The U 'next time he returned to: Christchurch £ he hoped to meet the class again and * *pend another such enjoyable evening with them. On Saturday morning Dr. Cameron left for the West Coast to visit the abuses there; Mr Hanan returning the same day to Invercargill.