W.E.A. REPORTS

Evening Star, Issue 18979, 29 June 1925, Page 10

W.E.A. REPORTS

SOUTH DUMEDIfI GLASS On Wednesday evening the South Dunedin class, studying social psychology, found much interest and amusement In the subjects of custom, tradition, and fashion. Tito tutor, Mr A. C. Watson, including tradition in the term custom, described it as the garnered experience of the past which has become the common possession of all I individuals. The power of custom is mental, and its source is to be found in suggestion and habit. That there is very little Ichauge in customs is largely owing to laziness and lack of clear, thinking. “It is indisputable that much the greatest part of mankind has never shown a particle of desire that its civil institutions should be changed” (Maine). In every segment of social life there is a tendency to form a “ crust of custom.” To break through this is very difficult, because of the mass of feelings and sentiments which encircle the social habits, it is custom which produces set forms in language, law, administration, and education. Custom rules in the less accessible fields, but cannot thrive where there is sharp competition. Custom is very powerful in matters of feeling, and the dead weight of fooling opposes change; therefore any survival of ancient custom is not dispensed with until it becomes a. nuisance.

The tutor wont on to speak of fashion, which dominates our manners and dress, and influences our sentiments and modes of thought. Note the new scientific- interest in obscure mental facts—psychic.’ phenomena—which, a few years ago, no respectable scientist would study because ho did not believe in such things. Fashion is a series of recurring changes which, though they may bo accompanied by utility, are not determined by it. The ultimate reason for the existence of fashion is the desire to be different. This passion for inequality lies very deep in human nature. The fashion process has two movements—-imitation and differentiation. Although modern fashion extends to a great number of objects, and is characterised by great rapidity in the changes, there is some rebellion against fashion. There is a growing loathing for allotting social esteem according to purely fictitious and superficial tests. The lecture was followed, as usual, by discussion.

NORTH-EAST VALLEY CLASSES Thursday’s subject was ‘ Thu Decay of Feudalism and .the Growth to Nationality.’ Mr Johnson, the tutor', opened up the subject under the lollowing headings:—(l) Tlio decay of Jfeudiilism and the manor; (-?) the Black Death; (1!) the alienation of manorial demesne; (4) the peasants’ revolts; (o) the ngrugrian revolution. Animated discussion followed the lecture,’ which showed that evolution in society (cuds to work through alternation of decay and growth; and also that, by the middle of the fifteenth century that vitally important feature of tho system, the services of the “ customary tenants ” lor cultivation of the lord ’s demesne, had almost entirely passed away, and in its place had come money payments. This not only improved production, hut prepared lor tho break up of the organisation. Tho system of money payments had not become general until alter t.lie Black Death (1549), whimh devastated tho country. The great mortality made tenants move conscious than before of tho value to the lords ol their services, and so they pressed for the complete substitution of sums of money, which tbo lords resented by enacting » series of laws known as the “ Statutes of Laborers.” It was noted that the peasants had no say in the making of those laws, as Parliament was composed entirely of barons and landlords. This panic legislation, entirely out of pioportion fo the now order of tilings, resulted in social unrest, and under tho influence of the preaching of John Hall and Wyclifl'o (truly religions men) on a natural state of equality ended in an organised uprising, which failed. Yet it was snfiicient to make the lords realise their danger, and so finally they gave way to the demands. Thus it is a landmark in the historical evolution of the English peasantry from .servitude to freedom.