W.E.A.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 21 February 1925, Page 8

W.E.A.

class at manaia. : In connection wim a proposal that a W.E.A. class fo.nieu at Manaia for uie coming session, a meeting was held iii the i/’uolic School, Manaia, last evening. Mr J. V*'. Snowdon presided over a good attendance. The> chairman briefly explained the object of the meeting, and called upon - the tutororganiser to tUe W .E.A. classes (Mr \y. A. Sheat) to address the meeting. Mr Sheat fully explained the aims and objects of the association, and gave an account of the work being done by the W.E.A. at the present time in various parts of the Dominion. He traced the origin of the movement in England some 21 years ago, and gave an account of how the movement had spread to the Dominion in 1915. Its subsequent growth had been such as to prove that it met a real demand in the community, and it had done much to popularise the idea of adult education and to combat the notion that education was .something that was completed at the schools. The \V .E.A. was to-day the largest voluntary educational movement in the world, and was the only organisation in New Zealand concerned with the provision of facilities for adult education of a popular character. The value of its work was recognised by the Government, which provided grants for the carrying on of the classes and also provided money for the work of organising. These grants had been increased last year, which fact showed that the Education Department was satisfied that the work done in the '■lasses was of rea 1 educational value. The grants were administered by the university, and the classes when formed came under the control of the university college of the particular district in which they were situated. Last year there were some 90 classes in various parts of New Zealand covering a wide range of subjects. The movement was supported by all sections of 'the community, and was definitely not of a party-political character. After full particulars had been given regarding the classes that might he ari ranged for Manaia, it was decided on the motion of Mr J. Nairn, seconded by Mr W. TL Anton, that a class in economics he formed in Manaia, to meet on Thursday evenings. Eighteen members* were enrolled at the meeting, and some further names were handed in. The fee for the whole course was fixed at sfl.

A committee was set nil, consisting of Messrs ,J. IV. Snowdon (convenor), ,T. Nairn, J. T. Clngue, L. CrnwfordWatson. and J. Bakers’, to obtain further members a7id make the necessary arrangements for the opening of the class. \