W.E.A. GRANT

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 102, 27 October 1931, Page 11

W.E.A. GRANT

CURTAILMENT LEAKED

REQUEST TO MINISTER

;|.\.j,r tluit thorn would be ii drnsliicurl ailment in the (lovcnuuent grant to the Workers' Educational Association was expressed by a deputation to the Minister of Education (the .lion. K. Masters) to-day. It was pointed out that only a quarter of the estimated grant for this year had been paid, and that the association was about to make iis plans for next year. The Minister s-iid'that he would look into any commitments that had been made, and he stressed the serious position of the Government's finances at the present time. The deputation was introduced t>y Mr. E. M'Koen, M.P. Mr. B. Martin, of Auckland, said the W.E.A. had been pressed for some time to extend its activities, especially in the country districts and small towns, but had had to refuse requests owing •to lack of finance. Half the income of the association came from the Government, while the other half came from local bodies, privato grants, class fees, and activities organised by the association. Last year in anticipation of. the Government grant they had made various commitments, but so far they had received only one-quarter of what they expected. They had naturally a, 10 per cent, cut in the grant, but were perturbed because three-quarters of the anticipated amount was held back. Mr. Masters: "I take it that the Government is committed to the payment." . Mr. Martin': "I am not certain. Inafc is why we are here to-day." Ho took it that the Government would recognise the subsidies which were required to be made by statute. They had now arrived at the time when they had to make their plans for next: year, and they sought on assurance that tho payments set down in the Estimates would be made.

GEOWTH OF MOVEMENT,

Mr. B. Manning, Dominion secretary, said that the. growth of the movement had been phenomenal. In 1915 there were 18 classes and 429 students, and last year thero were 222 classes and 7355. students. No extra grant had been made to the association by the Government since 1924, and since tha.t time the number of classes had increased from 87 to 222. Owing to tho economic depression, it was estimated that the public donations would fall at least 50 per cent. This would mean a loss of £1000, and no doubt a further loss of £1000 on subsidies. Tho Carnegie Trust had offered them 10,000 dollars to help them, out of their present difficulties, relying on the Government to help them to raise tho remainder. Allowing for the total grants and subsidies from the Government being £5700 per annum and that 222 classes were in session, it meant that the cost per class-to the Government was £26, and the cost par student was about 15s. It was thus quite clear that the movement could bo organised and sustained ou a minimum of Government support. If ever there was a need for adult education it was now, when clear thinking and reasoned judgments, in preference to uninformed opinion and violent actions, were absolutely essential as the country was faced with severe economic problems. They sought the co-opera-tion of the Government in .maintaining the W.E.A. as an integral part of the educational system of the Dominion. Mrs. E. Maslen s;iid that the position was a most difficult one, as they were not in a position to -p:iy their tutors. The Wellington district included Taranaki, Hawkes Bay, Kelson, and Marlborough, and so far they had been ablo to provide one; tutor only for tho North Island country district. Every possible economy had been carried out.

GOVERNMENT'S POSITION.

In reply, Mr. Masters said that he appreciated the work tho W.E.A. was doing, but the Government found itself in the same position as local bodies and private individuals as far as finance was concerned. He would see that, tho commitments which had. boon .'made were paid promptly. In 1914 flic Government had paid £300 to each', university college for .\V.I3.A. work, but last year tho grant for the Dominion had grown to £0190. At the present timo the. Government had to consider every penny it spent. Tho cost of social services had grown to such an extent that one-third, of the total Government receipts went in this direction, and even if limes had been normal this position would have had to bo investigated. As matters wore tho situation was infinitely worse. He understood that tho average class fee in the W.E.A. was 2s Gd. Mrs. Maslon: "It is 5s in Wellington." Mr. Masters suggested that in a difficult timo liko the present tho students might bo asked to pay a greater portion of tho cost of the association's activities. Ho did not think that even 15s per year would entail any great hardship on the great majority of the students. Mrs. Maslen said that many of the students attended two or three classes. • Mr. Masters said that tho avenues of revenue available were limited, and the Government had to face an estimated deficit in this year's Budget. The whole question of a grant was a matter for the' Minister of Finance. Ho promised to look into tho points which had been raised.