Series of addresses for youth organised

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32554, 13 March 1971, Page 21

Series of addresses for youth organised

"Why is 71 the One’”, a programme to promote discussion on issues too often taken for granted, but rarely understood, such as the role of government, racial differences, finance, religion and cultural values, will begin at Dallington on April 4, with the aim of assisting young people to become betterinformed citizens.

It is believed to be the first programme of its kind in New Zealand.

The 20-week series, which will continue to August 8, has been organised mainly for the benefit of young people living in the eastern suburbs of Christchurch, but it will be open to all persons. Many older people are being encouraged to attend to provide dialogue between the generations. The Rev. R. Schmack, a priest at St Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, Dallington, said that although the idea for the programme began as a result of discussion groups held last year at St Paul’s, the 50 young organisers represented a wide range of denominations, and persons of any or no church affiliation were being invited to attend. About 1200 brochures advertising the series were being distributed throughout Christchurch and already the response had been extremely good, he said. Meetings with addresses by prominent New Zealanders will be held every second Sunday evening at St Paul’s and in the intervening weeks there will be follow-up discussion groups. Speakers

The role of government in I people’s lives, foreign policy,' the United Nations, the European Economic Community and responsibility in the nation’s education will be among topics raised by the first speaker, the Leader of; the Opposition (Mr Kirk) on April 4. I Two weeks later the im-l portance of local body affairs,: the maintenance of public' order, and the provision of! urban facilities will be dealt I with by the chairman of thei

Waimairi County Council (Mr D. B. Rich).

Racial differences in Christchurch and in New Zealand will be discussed by the chaplain to the Samoan community in Christchurch (the Rev. K. Faletoese) and Mr A. Orme on April 25, and on May 16 the significance of the news media will be outlined by the editor of the New Zealand “Tablet” (Mr J. Kennedy) and Mr J. Cote, of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation. A talk on cultural values will be given by the director of the Robert McDougall Art Gallery (Mr B. Muir) on May 30 and on June 13 economics and finance will be discussed by a lecturer in economics at Canterbury University, Mr B. Easton.

A person's rights when arrested or questioned, demonstration and the right to dissent and the making of a will will form the basis of an address by a barrister and solicitor, Mr G. T. Mahon, on June 27. At the next meeting on July 11, a former conciliation commissioner, Mr S. Armstrong, will deal with trade unions, wage fixing, awards, apprenticeships, and the importance of job training. Religious practice

The eighth meeting on July 25 will involve discussion on religious practice with an address by the Roman Catholic chaplain to Canterbury University (the Rev. F. Duming, S.M.). The last speaker on August 8 will be a well-known Roman Catholic layman and poet, Mr J. K. Baxter. The title of his address will be, “I am a Person in the World.” j t Father Schmack said that no charge would be made for persons attending the series. To cover the cost of holding the programme, however, an application for a grant of $lOO had been made to the (Christchurch City Council. : Applications for financial ('assistance had also been (made to the National Youth ! Council and the Golden Kiwi ; I Lottery, he said.