NO FUNDS

Evening Post, Volume xciv, Issue 73, 24 September 1917, Page 8

NO FUNDS

FOR NEW PROJECTS

GOVERNMENT REPLY TO DEPUTATION. .

■ A request for financial assistance was made by a deputation representing the New Zealand Workers' Educational Association, including several members of Parliament, which waited on the Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey), Sir Joseph Ward, and the Hon. J. A. Hanan this afternoon. Professor Hunter pointed out the valuable work being done by the association in Great Britain and other countries. The movement, he said, was started in New Zealand in 1915 to enable the workers to have a higher education. Owing to lack of funds the Wellington Association was unable to assist associations in other parts of the country. The Wellington City Council had given £100 towards the work, the Feilding Borough Council £60, and similar faith had been shown by other local bodies. What was suggested was that £300' should be given to each of the four university colleges. Mr. Massey : £1300 in aIL... Professor Hunter said there were classes, in Wellington which .were not able to pay their tutors at all. In view of the laxge amount of good work being done by the association, it would be a pity for the movement to collapse at the present time for want of financial support. ' i : '■''. ■ ..'. Mr. M. J. Reardon endorsed • what had been said by Professor Hunter. The executive' had found it impossible to extend its operations owing to the lack of funds. There were hundreds of men ■who had been forced to go into the country to earn their living wh«n they were very young, and there could be»no doubt as to the matter, of getting a handsome response in regard to students if the facilities were offering. He "believed that after the war there would be a battle for commercial supremacy, and to win that war it would be necessary to educate the workers. The association had the tutors and sufficient students, but it lacked the funds. The position was that when a tutor was engaged the association was not sure it would be able to pay him for his labour. Mr. Struthers (Chri6tchurch) also urged the necessity for the work to be financially assisted by the Government. Sir Joseph Ward stated in reply that the present trouble was that the country a* a whole, through the Government, had all it could do to mind its financial responsibility. It was impossible to provide even for all the requirements of the Education Department, and it was impossible to set aside any portion, of the War Loan tor the purpose set forth by the deputation. The matter had been discussed by Cabinet, but the Government wanted to avoid taking up new projects. It could not be said what would happen in ■ future. The taxation that had been levied was very heavy, and it was going to have a very prejudicial effect on the country if- it went on. Sir Joseph said he recognised that after the war there' was going to be a battle for commercial supremacy, but, speaking as Finance Minister, it was not a time when the Government could take up new financial responsibilities. The Hon. J. A. Hanaa (Minister of Education) stated that the, country that made education its leading'industry was the country that was going to win out after,' the war. (Hear, hear.) , • , The Minister added that he had placed his views on the matter before Cabinet, *nd they were now being consideredMr. Massey said that he knew something of the good work being done by the association, not only in this country, bul in Australia. He believed it was worthy of every confidence and assistance, but it was a' question" of "finance. The Gov-' eminent had to face a decreasing revenue and a very rapidly, '. increasing expenditure. The matter was now under consideration by Cabinet, but he could make no promise.