Nation Urged To Devote Spare Time To Culture

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30216, 22 August 1963, Page 14

Nation Urged To Devote Spare Time To Culture

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter] WELLINGTON, August 21. One of the first reasons advanced when the working week in New Zealand was shortened some 30 years ago was that it would give the ordinary citizen more opportunity to devote extra time to cultural pursuits, Mr G. G. E. Harker (Govt., Hawke’s Bay) said in Parliament tonight during the second reading debate on the Adult Education Bill. Mr Harker said he sometimes wondered if, over the years, that had not come to mean “the culture of the hop and the pursuit of its products.”

But the purpose behind the suggestion of Labour’s first Prime Minister. Mr Savage, was more than a beautiful idea, said Mr Harker. It was an entirely practical suggestion, for not- only did the shorter working week give men and women the opportunity to broaden their general field of knowledge and enjoy healthy intellectual pursuits, but it gave them a chance to advance their learning in technical fields. It must be recognised that no race, class or section should have a monopoly of cultural knowledge. Opposition speakers pressed for the continued representation of the Workers’ Educational Association on the National Council of Adult Education. The bill reduces the membership of tire council to seven —two appointed by the Minister of Education, two by the University Grants Committee, the chairman of that committee, the Director of Education and one member appointed by the council itself. Opposition speakers also argued for members to represent Maori adult education and countrywomen's organisations. Mr L. R. Adams-Schneider (Govt., Hamilton) said individual organisations should have their representation on the regional councils. “The real work of adult education is generated at the regional level,” he said. “The national council’s work will be streamlined. The council will be smaller, more effective, and have a narrower, but more clearly defined, power.” Sir Eruera Tirikatene (Opp., Southern Maori) said a lack of interest had been exhibited by the Government removing Maori representation from the Adult Education Council. “There is no valid reason why the Maori people should not be represented. I trust the Minister won’t apply the persuasive term ‘integration’,” he said.

“Too often these days that word is used as an excuse to rob the Maori of his ethnic distinction while his culture and colour remain distinctive.” Mr H. E. L. Pickering (Govt., Hurunui) said he disagreed with Opposition speakers who "plugged” for sectional interests in adult education. The impression that universities were unsuited to control adult education was quite erroneous. The fears expressed were unfounded. On what grounds could the claims of the W.E.A.. a great voluntary organisation, be ignored? Mr M. A. Connelly (Opp., Riccarton) asked. The Minister of Education in nominating members of the council could make provision for the Maoris and the country women, and the University Grants Committee would make provision for the W.E.A. “The place for the W.E.A. is at national level,” Mr Connelly said. “Its outlook is not necessarily the same as that of the professional educationists and there is room for differences of opinion at national level. Progress usually arises from the clash of opinion.” The Minister of Education (Mr Tennent) said his experience with the W.E.A. had indicated that there was a vital need for adult education. He was sorry to hear that the movement in Palmerston North had gone into recession. He said he was sorry Sir Eruera Tirikatene had referred to “integration” and “colour bar.” The reason no Maori representatives were

on the new board was that the Maori representative on the national council firmly supported the principle that sectional interests should not be represented. “I approached three prominent Maori men, not members of Parliament, who said they approved entirely of the bill,” Mr Tennent said. “I think that if members made inquiries among the Maori race; they would find this is representative of general feeling." The bill was given a second reading.

Clerks Of Work.— Officers elected at the annual meeting of the Caniterbury-West-land branch of the Institute of Clerks of Works were: chairman, Mr W. Sharp: deputy-chairman, Mr B. De Wilde; board, Messrs B. Foley, F. Diver, and B. De Wilde; hon. auditor. Mr J. Toner; hon. secretary, Mr J. Mundy; trustees. Messrs A Barron and J. Mundy.