WORKERS' EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 39, 15 August 1921, Page 8

WORKERS' EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION

WELLINGTON CENTRE.

The Wellington Centre of the Workers' Educational Association mot last week, there being present. Messrs, M. J. Forde (president), L. A. Edwards, B. Barker, B. Yeates. R. Taylor, J. Barras, M. Ayrton, J. O'Kane, Misses B. Millward, England, and Jooshen, and the secretary,' (Mr. D. R. Kennedy). . Reports received ■ regarding various classes indicated that on the whole satisfactory progress was being made. A botany class under the leadership of Mr. Olliver, Botanist to the Dominion Museum, had been (successfully launched, and four -different classes had been established in the Westport district, which oame under the jurisdiction of the Wellington Centre. Regret was expressed that the eopnomics class at Lower Hutt ,had oeased to exist. ; NOT -UNDERSTOOD. Mr. Edwards, convener oH the committee that had been allotted the- task of canvassing for financial support, reported that, wherever the activities of the assooiation had been understood, he had met with sympathetic response, and it was generally recognised that the association had a great sphere of usefulness before it. He had found, however, with many people, an astonishing degree of ignorance regarding the W.E.A., whioh the centre should endeavour to remove. On oc-, icasions, when obstructions had been raised, ho had found no difficulty in advancing convincing and irrefutable proof of the good work' the association was doing; but spasmodio effort of the kind was not sufficient, and it was only by persistent .advooacy of the claims the association had on the democracy that full justice would be done, to their organisation. Mr. Edwards said he \ was quito satisfied that were the case \ for tho! association properly understood by the community, not only would the financial support be materially strengthened, but the membership of the classes would be trebled in a very short time\ Mr. Forde said v that he had found a. similar regrettable lack of knowledge of the association amongst workers' organisations, although a plentiful supply of literature bearing on the association's activities had been distributed broadcast, and reports and sympathetic articles had appeared in the newspapers from time to time. A more disturbing feature, to his 1 mind, was the appalling apathy that pervaded the public mind at the present time, which, however, might be only n passing phase. But at present all the people seemed to concern themselves seriously about was "the picking of winners," and the glorification of footballers and, to a lesser degree, other athletes. To people who thought of the future of the democracy there was email comfort to be gleaned at the present time. . Mr. Barras stud that there was no reason to feel discouraged; they must keep pegging away and good results 'would assuredly follow. ' That had been the history of all great educational movements, and ,he instanced the establishment of free education in Scotland, from which no apparent results, he said, had transpired until after 'thirty years had elapsed. Those results were now, not only apparent, but very real, and made for the well-being of the people from every point of view. After further discussion, it was decided to ask Professor Hunter and Professor Murphy to act with Mr. Edwards in devising ways and means of placing the claims of tho W.E.A. before every section of. the community. It was also agreed that an endeavour should be made to arrange that Professor Murphy deliver an address to members of the Rotary Club, dealing with the activities and potentialities of the W. E. A.

A most enjoyable concert was given .before a crowded audience at St. Peter's H"all last Saturday afternoon in aid of the Foreign Mission Fund. The entertainment was given by Mr. 'Stanley Airth and company, and directed by Mr. Edward Lewis. Songs were creditably rendered by Misses Ira Wolfgang, Violet Bennett, Dorothy Chapman, and Olga Palmer; very pretty dances were given by Misses Dorothy" Potter, Vera Flan, and Josephine Noron; a violin solo by Master Eric Anderson; and a charming recitation by Miss Annio Flan. Mr. Stanley Airth and Mr. Arthur Chalk gave two most delightful comic sketches. In the, latter one, " Something from Pantomime," they were assisted by Miss Ira Wolfgang. A "Punch and Judy" show was Riven by Mr. Denton. Mrs. Arthur Anderson was the.pianist.. It is hoped that the mission fund will benefit considerably by this performance.

To-morrow evening at Dustin's Rooms, Cuba-street, there will be a meeting of the South African War Veterans' Association,