ADULT EDUCATION

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25328, 30 October 1947, Page 6

ADULT EDUCATION

INTRODUCTION OF BILL NATIONAL COUNCIL TO BE SET UP (P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 29. The recommendations of the consultative committee which recently reported on adult education are embodied in the Adult Education Bill introduced in the House of Representatives to-day. The bill was read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Education Committee. The Minister of Education (Mr T. H. McCombs) said the bill had been preSared by his predecessor (Mr H. G. ~ Mason) and provided for the appointment of a National Council of Adult Education and also for regional councils associated with university colleges.. The bill set out the procedure for the distribution through these chan? nets of the finance required for adult education. . The National Council is to consist of the Director of Education, the Director of Broadcasting, the Director of the National Library Service, one member appointed by the Senate of the University of New Zealand, two members each appointed by the Auckland. Victoria, and Canterbury College Councils and the University of Otago Council, one member appointed by the Dominion council of the Workers’ Educational Association, and one member appointed by the Minister to represent tne Native race. The functions of the council are to promote and foster adult education and the cultivation of the arts and to make recommendations to the Minister as to the amount of the annual grant for adult education and to administer and control expenditure. From money received by it, either by way of Government grant or from any other source, the council has power to make grants for adult education. to appoint officers and other servants, and to appoint advisory committees.

Local authorities and public bodies authorised to contribute to the funds of the National Council. In each university district there is to be established a regional council of adult education, whose members are to be appointed by the college council of the district, which shall exercise such powers in respect to adult education as the college council may delegate to it. The college council is to ensure that at least half of the members of the regional council are persons appointed on the nomination of voluntary organisations engaged or interested in adult education. For the purpose of providing educational and cultural activities in any locality, the Minister may establish a community centre, either separately or in connexion with any school.