ADULT EDUCATION

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22392, 4 May 1938, Page 12

ADULT EDUCATION

COUNCIL HOLDS FIRST MEETING LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY MAY BE ACQUIRED (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) • WELLINGTON, May 3. The first meeting of the recently constituted Council of Adult Education was held to-day. The Hon. P. Fraser (Minister for Education) expressed the hope that though at present its capacity was mainly advisory, the council would be a body of increasing importance. Legislative authority would -in all probability be later arranged and the council would then feel its labour effective. He would ask members to consider and suggest the forms of machinery necessary to enable the council to perform its task. Til* immediate task was to discuss what might be required for the performance of adult education during this year. The estimates were being considered, and the finance, so far as lay in his power, would be made available. He would welcome opinions on the needs of the movement, which had been a spontaneous growth in various directions. This very fact ha* made him realise the need for co-ordination in extending the work of the bodies concerned. He would further like an opinion on the permanent organisation to be arranged, and the extent ,to which the facilities of the University of New Zealand might be employed for administrative purposes. The Minister assured members of the council of his continued interest in their permanent work. The council unanimously agreed that Professor T. A. Hunter be elected chairman. Professor Hunter said he felt quite sure that the council could count upon the co-operation of the University of New Zealand in all its work. He also expressed to the Minister the thanks of the council for his encouraging remarks. The council then proceeded to map out a scheme whereby the necessary information regarding the work of interested organisations might be obtained.