ANNUAL W.E.A. CONFERENCE

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26199, 24 August 1950, Page 3

ANNUAL W.E.A. CONFERENCE

PRESIDENT’S REVIEW OF WORK The association must think out new methods of approach, new methods of advertising, and new techniques in the classes, if the movement was to enlarge its usefulness in society and justify its continued existence, said Mr G. Manning, president of the New Zealand Workers’ Educational Association, in his address at the opening of the annual conference in Christchurch. Delegates were present from the four main cities, and from Timaru, Palmerston North, and Invercargill. The main functions of the association were to stimulate interest in adult education and to provide facilities for that education, Mr Manning said. The association must search its own special fields of activity and provide the best possible educational service. The work of the association had been well maintained during the year, Mr Manning said. There had been 34 tutorial classes with 1189 students, 55 half-session classes with 1525 students, 38 short courses with 1009 students, and three discussion courses with 33 students, a total of 3756. In addition the association had undertaken other educational work to stimulate interest in adult education, such as W.E.A. clubs, summer schools, public forums, Public lectures, and lunch hour study groups in the factories. Last year there were 311 factory meetings in the three main centres and in the other main centre there had been 27 groups with an average attendance of 60. Remits were passed by the conference dealing with publicity for the association among workers. The conference affirmed that in tutorial classes the order of priority would be, first, sociological topics, second, cultural and non-vocational scientific topics, and third, technical or practical topics which could be provided by other bodies.

The conference expressed grave concern “with the relative lack of appreciation of subjects dealing with social, economic, and political problems ’ and recommended to district councils that they maintain emphasis on those subjects and report to the conference each year on the methods used to maintain that interest and th® su £cess th a t had met their efforts. The following officers were elected: --President, Mr G. Manning (Christchurch); North Island vice-president, P. Humphries (Auckland); South n j vice-president, Mr Lincoln £iiord (Christchurch): treasurer, Mr F - M. Earle. Delegates to the conference were Welcomed to Christchurch by the Mayor (Sir Ernest Andrews) at a concert given by W.E.A. members. internal policy matters were discusin detail and the following resoaH? n was adopted:—“That the field of “Quit education cannot be left to statu‘°ry bodies alone, nor can the need be L?B s " ed by schemes of political education developed by party organisaand is important that liberal It education should not come wholly under official direction. It “-ust continue to be vitalised by volunyjer organisations, ruch as the W.E.A., wnich can ensure that it will be responsive to the needs of those who take part in it.” it was agreed that *he next conference be held at Palmerstcn North.