FOR WORKERS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 150, 22 December 1914, Page 3

FOR WORKERS

EDUCATIONAL SCHEME INAUGURAL MEETING The meeting, held in the Concert Chamber, Town Hall, last night, for the purpose of inaugurating the Workers' Educational Association in Wellington, was attended by about a hundred and fifty persons including prominent educationists and leading men in the Labour movement. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) presided and, after briefly explaining the purpose of the meeting, announced the receipt of apologies for absence from Professor T. A. Hunter, Messrs^ W. Ferguson, A. R. Atkinson, C. B. Morison, and ,C. Watson. Mr. D. Stanley Smith gave an account! of the .origin and character of theWorkers' Educational Association in England. Some centuries ago, he stated, the universities in England developed into universities for the wealthy. The workers, however, did not wholly lose the torch of learning, but endeavoured by means of mechanics' institutions, university extension lectures, and scholarships to' obtain education for their class. But all these methods had their limitations which held even in New Zealand. A young man might be prevented by the necessities of life from pursuing the course of his education even if he gained a scholarship. Often if he were enabled to continue a course of training he was lost to his class. The extension , lectures failed in the attainment of their object because they did not provide the right kind of tuition at a low fee, and because the lecturer was often out of touch with his audience. The educational association aimed at presenting everything from the workers' point of view. The basis of the scheme was a system of tutorial classes, the members of, which pledged themselves to attend 24 lectures during the winter. Each lecture would comprise one hour's discourse by the lecturer and one hour's discussion^ by the class. In England the association had proved of great practical value, and in New Zealand there must also be numbers of men anxious to educate themselves if the facilities were provided. Even if subjects of practical value, such as -economics, were not taken the education gained would- enrich the life of the worker, teach him how to make a good use of his leisure and make him of greater service to the community. Mr. Meredith x\tkinson would be in Wellington in January to help with the Formation of the association and would, besides doing organising work, deliver three public lectures, one on "The Industrial Revolution/ another on "The History of Trades Unionism," and a third on "The Old English Village."* Mr. M. J. Mack, general secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway j Servants, moved the following motion : — "This, meeting heartily supports the proposal to pstablish branches of the Workers' Educational Association in Wellington and district and, to this end, sets up a committee to make the necessary arrangements for the forthcoming visit of the organising secretary for Australasia." Mr. Mack stated that he knew, from his connection with his large union, that the Labour movement here was practically starving for lack of education. Now the opportunity for obtaining education was being brought to their doors if they would only take it. Sir Robert Stout, Chancellor of the New Zealand University, seconded the motion He drew attention to the differ;nce between the Universities in England land in New Zealand. Whereas -in England, even where residence was not winprlsory, the hoars of lectures were such that a man had to devote his whole same to study, in New Zealand, to meet the needs of the people, the classes were mostly held in the evening. At the present time most University students were earning their living or following some occupation while studying. If this movement were to succeed it would have to be worked side by side with the Universities, technical schools, and other sducational establishments. They must not increase tho number of educational authorities, or the cost of education would rise also and the quality fall. ,1v New Zealand workers' hours were shorter thai? in England, and if a young man were really anxious to obtain knowledge he could do so by going to fche University at night or reading in the public libraries instead of going to the pictures. It was all nonsense to say that there were no opportunities. The opportuni- ! ties were very numerous, and if the men wishing to attend lectures co\fld not afford fees he would like to see the classes made absolutely free. If they could geo this association formed it might be the means of enthusing Jhe young people so as to make their think of the duty they owed to themselves and to the community. In a true democracy they must have : first, equality of opportunity; second, efficiency; and they could never get the latter unless the young people^ were made to have an aim an life, the improvement of themselves, so that they might better serve the community Discussion of the motion was invited, and several speakers arose from the audience. Mr. Weber said he had attended similar classes in London. He remarked that if they wished to kill the Workers' Educational Association qnickly they should make it eminently respect-able. In opposition to Sir Robert Stout, he_ wished further to insist that this association must be a distinct bod}. Several other speakers referred to the character and methods of the proposed tutorial classes. The men who claimed to speak for the working classes urged that the association and the classes must be under the control of the workers p-nd apart from the university. It was explained by Mr. Smith that the .workers would be in control and their association with university professors would be purely voluntary. Elsewhere members of similar associations had been very grateful to the university men for helping them. Sir Robert Stout said he did not propose that there should be university control, but only that the facilities af forded by the university should be made use of. The motion approving the proposal was carried, and subsequently, on the motion of Mr. E. J. Carey, seconded by the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, the following committee was set up -.—The Mayor (Mr. .7. P. Luke), Mrs. R.- Hursthouse, Miss M. England, Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, Professor T. A. Hunter, Messrs. J M'Kenwc (President Trades and Labour Coun cil), A. H. Hindmarsh, M. J. Mack W. £ 7 Otta J' Fras ? r > J - R § W > H - H - Ostler, T. R. Fleming, G. Hogben, J. S. Barton, with Messrs. L. Rearden and T). S. Smith as joint secretaries. Tn speaking to the motion to set up the committee, Mr. Carey said he resented the suggestion by some previous speakers that, because university professors were associated with it, there was something suspicions about the movewent. Some men did not want to be educated, and home never could be, they knew too much. He himself would be grateful to anybody, university professor or working man, who assisted in the work of education. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.