W.E.A.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18243, 29 November 1924, Page 6

W.E.A.

CANTERBURY DISTRICT COUNCIL. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Canterbury District Council of the VT.E.A. was held on Thursday night, Mr H. D, Acland presiding over a fair attendance.

The annual report was submitted by the secretary (Air George Manning). Dealing vrith finance it stated that a total of £37S 2$ Od had been received in subscriptions from affiliated trades unions, public bodies, and individuals. The financial position had been very satisfactory and the only item that caused the Council anxiety was the reduction of the City Council's vote from £IOO to £SO.

The 192-1 session, the report continued, had been one of consolidation and expansion. In addition to the work of the classes, au educational conference was organised, a Summer School was held at Geraldine, two weeks, and schools were held in South Canterbury, a series of popular lectures had been held, and social evenings and rambles were oragnised. The total number of classes held was 25, two of which were not under the control of the Tutorial Class Committee. The total enrolment of the 23 recognised classes was 013. The loss of four classes as compared with last year was largely accounted for owing to the inability to maintain a tutor on the West Coast. A pleasing feature of the year's work was the establishment of classes at Oxford and Leeston, which was a proof that the movement was spreading further and further into the country districts. Mr J. E. Strachan, M.A., M.Sc, had conducted a class on "General Science" at Kaiapoi. Owing to the departure for Cambridge University of Mr H. Belshaw, M.A., his classes in South Canterbury only had a course of 12 lectures. Mr G. H. Hansard had conducted a class on Education in Timaru and thereby had kept the students of the Literature J Class together for the rest of the term. Mr G. 11. Thompson had conducted a class in Ghristchurch on "The History o£ the Labour Movement." The tendency to include country centres in. the benefits of the movement was shown by the distribution of the classes as fol. lows: — Classes. Christchurch .. .. 10 Timaru .. .. .. 3 North Canterbury district .. 5 South Canterbury district .. 5 Total 23 The country districts, it would be noted, had as many classes as the city. The new roomß at the Trades Hall were formally opened on May 10th. At the Summer School, held at Geraldine, 156 persons attended: women 84, men 53 (including three members of Parliament). The central theme was "The Nature of Freedom, Political, Social, and Economie." An important feature of the School was the keen demand for extra classes to study present day problems: this had been met, to some extent, by the class on "Reparations" and the class which studied the International Problems of India. The attedaneo at the series of popular lectures, held under tho auspices of the W.E.A. last winter, had been satisfactory. Each, elass now possessed the nucleus of a library; in addition tho students could obtain the loan of any book in the Central Library. From the Central Library the students in the eight classes held in the Trades Hall borrowed 363 books as follows: Economics ~., .. 108 Drama ..• .. ',.„ 106 Psychology .. .. 56 Sociology .. .. 46 Philosophy .. .. 14 Literature .. .. 33 During the year 50 books we're added, making tho total now over 1000. "The Pre??, in reporting tho activities of the Association," the report stated, "has assisted to break down tho ignorance and prejudice that assailed the movement in the early years of its existence, and the thanks pf the Council are due to the editors and reporters." As to the future, the report stated, that with an increased Government grant the future was bright. There oxists a need for a permanent tutor in North Canterbury, and one on the West Coast, where extra classes could be organised. If these tutors can be appointed then the movement would be fulfilling part of its real functions in taking university education into the country districts. The rural workers needed tho movement 90 that their lives might be made brighter by possessing facilities for the study of those things that make life worth living. The city workers who had the opportunity of attending classes, but had failed to do so, must be encouraged and shown the value of an intelligent mind. The movement must create in the minds of town and country workers a desire for education in the interest I and the well-being of their fellowmen, so that New Zealand may rank as the foremost country in the world in which the principles of democracy are being applied. The report was adopted. The treasurer (Mr W. J MeCulr lough) presented the balance-sheet, whieh showed a balance to credit of £9O 6s. The balance-sheet was adopted. A report by the secretary on the steps taken to develop closer relationship between" the District Council and the loeal councils was adopted. A report was submitted of a meeting of representatives of the Council and of the executive of the Canterbury Branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute regarding a further conference on educational subjects. It recommended: "That tho next conference be held during one week; that three nights be taken for public discussion, and on alternate nights a sub-committee prepare statements, or resolutions for the final meeting, the same to be broadcast to similar organisations throughout New Zealand." - The report was.adopted. :

The election of officers President: Mr H. D. Aeland (reelected); vice-president, Mr H. A. Shrubshall; treasurer, Mr W. Davidson; secretary, Mr Geo. Manning; executive: Miss A. Bobinson, Messrs W. Newman, W. Anderson, and H. Worrall; Tutorial Class Committee: Messrs A. Ockenden, W. J. McCullougl), P. Carritt, and K. A. Brookes; Representative on Dominion Council, Professor J. Shelley; Delegates to Dominion Conference at Auckland in February next: Mr H. D. Aeland, and Professor Shelley.