ARMY EDUCATION SERVICE

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23817, 10 December 1942, Page 4

ARMY EDUCATION SERVICE

CIVILIAN ASSISTANCE

NEEDED

MINISTER OUTLINES SCHEME (P.A.) WELLINGTON, December 9. "The scheme of Army welfare and education will require considerable assistance from civilians,” the Minister of Education (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) said to-day. “As far as possible, the Army will provide its own lecturers, instructors, and equipment, but with so many men and so great a variety of activities to cater for, a considerable amount of civilian help will be needed." Mr Mason said that, in each district where there is a military camp, a civilian regional committee would be set up. The committees would collect information about civilian educational facilities in the area that could be used by the Army and pass it on to Army educational officers. They would also arouse civilian interest to pass on facilities asked for by the Army. The Education Department would have the general responsibility for (he civilian organisation involved, and for the coordination of the activities of the civilian committees.

Mr W. B. Harris, Supervisor of Technical Aids, had been appointed to act as liaison officer with the Army. The scheme of Army education aimed at building up morale and maintaining mental activity among the soldiers. Lectures, films, and discussions would be used, and libraries, hobbies, craft work, music, and drama would be included, It was hoped that training courses could be made available to younger men who wished to continue studios or vocational training interrupted by military service.