W.E.A. LECTURES AT PRISON

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27211, 1 December 1953, Page 12

W.E.A. LECTURES AT PRISON

“IMPORTANT ASPECT OF ACTIVITIES” During the last year, work among the Paparua Prison inmates had become an important aspect of the Workers’ Educational Association activities, said the secretary (Mr Lincoln Efford) in his annual report to the association’s annual meeting at the week-end. Fifteen lectures were given on Saturday evenings and the attendances averaged about 30. The lectures were appreciated greatly by prisoners and staff, and the prison superintendent had written to express, the thanks of the Department of Justice for them. Mr Efford said. Lecturers had given their time free, and the Christchurch Rotary Club had provided transport. The Paparua Prison Service Council had been formed during the year, and consisted of representatives of eight organisations and Justice Department officers. The object of the council was “to promote the welfare of inmates and to co-operate in the reformative aims of the Justice Department, especially by helping to provide recreational, educational, and cultural facilities.” The W.E.A. was affiliated to this council. The council had sponsored recreational and hobby activity in the prison, and had provided equipment and materials for prisoners. Two classes, in public speaking and debating, and in basket work, had been organised with good results. Teachers were paid by the Education Department.

“The prison work has the approval and support of the Secretary of Justice,” Mr Efford said, “and is likely to play a large part in the rehabilitation of offenders.” Adult education now needed to provide for a wider range of interests, said Mr Efford. “Gaining satisfaction through an interesting use of leisure time is one of its important aims, and we can take satisfaction that, within our limited means, we are seeking to encourage people in better ways of using leisure.” There had again been a large demand for the more practical and useful classes. At (he same time, the association existed to stimulate serious intellectual study, particularly in political and social affairs, so that students might become better citizens and more able to understand and deal with the grave problems of the atomic age. Classroom accommodation was becoming a grave problem, Mr Efford said. A properly-equipped central building in which to carry out the association’s work was urgently needed, and he wondered, if the need were made more known, whether a public or private response could be stimulated to help toward obtaining better premises.