Italian Scholars

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31523, 10 November 1967, Page 2

Italian Scholars

A love of Italy, particularly its traditions of literature and music, united a small group of academics in Christchurch. In 1959, led by two Italians, Mrs Marusa Byatt and her brother Mr B. Ballara, they formed the Christchurch branch of the Dante Alighieri which now has a membership of between 60 and 90 scholars.

The society is devoted to "teaching and diffusing the language and culture of Italy throughout the world.” It is not a social cluh. and although its members form firm friendships most remain reticent about conversing in Italian.

Reviving spiritual bonds of Italians in other countries and fostering a love of the country in foreigners is one of the society’s aims, set out in the statutes of the Dante Alighieri of Rome. The Rome organisation is the mother society, assisting and encouraging its branches all over the world. It provides scholarships for study, reference books, and regular publications of interest to the branches in Auckland and Christchurch,

The nucleus of the Christchurch society is made up of a group who attended Italian language classes established by the Workers’ Education Association in 1956. Those who studied under Dr A. H. W. Harte and the Rev. K. Schollar were mostly graduates interested in the country’s language and culture. Most had visited Italy. The Italian membership is small. Italians who have settled, have formed their own social club, but the Dante has about six Italian members interested in its specialised studies. They give a reading in Italian before each monthly meeting. Interest in learning Italian has lessened diming the last few years and classes are no longer held ait the W.E.A. The Dante Alighieri holds small weekly study groups and has speakers on a wide variety of subjects at its monthly meetings. Christchurch students who wish to study Italian must do so by correspondence with the universities of Auckland or Wellington, and they find the society’s 300 strong library invaluable.