RURAL COMMUNITY CENTRES

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24744, 8 December 1945, Page 3

RURAL COMMUNITY CENTRES

THINGS THEY COULD DO A rural community centre was formed a few weeks ago in the HawardenWaikari district, a locality that recorded a good production effort during ithe war. The objects of 'the new organisation may not be appreciated, but in the long run they aim at making country life more attractive, which in turn should be reflected in arresting the drift from rural areas to the cities, as revealed by the census. . < A reader has supplied a list of things such centres could do. They cover a wide range, as follows: They will vary from district to district, according to the people,. occupation, communications, etc; they must in the long run aim at having a genuine educational purpose—l believe that no matter how we may "shy off" the name "educational," the only real hope for the. country is in an educated country populace; they will probably first stress the social and recreational side—they will probably have to, to get,.sufficient support to start them; they will inevitably be a "flop" unless the community believes they are desirable, even necessary, and is prepared to work and pay for them; they must set out to provide for, and attempt to satisfy, basic personal and social needs, which so many people have.- but for. which in the country there are so opportunities of satisfying; they can provide a home for grouDs already existing in the community: some, of the activities possible (not all at once, and not all attempted in the first, or even the first five years).

"Instruction classes in art, craft, literature; discussion classes in modern affairs, etc; library, working in with country library service; facilities for study and reading; provision for music, entertainment . and appreciation; drama, the study and production of plays;* facilities for showing films, especially those not available on the circuits: opportunity to engage in folk dancing, and physical education activities. Such things must not be the major activity of a centre, it must have an educational aim with the idea of producing citizens better qualified to look after the interests of the country and country life."