WORKERS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 23 September 1925, Page 7

WORKERS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

(To the Editor). Sir,—l would be obliged it you would publish the following further information regarding the above association and its work' This was received by me this evening, together with a copy of the newspaper report ot Prof. Stewart’s evidence and certain further details of the association’s work. These I am asked to return to •Christchurch, but I will ho'd them 'mjtil Saturday next, and J would he pleased if Mr Messana or others who are interested would peruse them. —I am ,etc., G. H. P.. FITZGERALD. Hon. Sec. W.E.A.. Eltham Branch. "Secretary W.E.A.. Eltham.

"Dear Sir,—Dr. Right has handed me your letter and the newspaper eut-tin"-'s in reference to the accusation that the W.E.A. was practically preaching sedition and support of the Russian flag. r ... .“In the first place, I may say that, we in Canterbury have no knowledge whatever of any Prof. Scott nor have wc knowledge of anyone making the statements referred to. . . •‘Prof. Stewart’s criticism, which .1. enck.se. was simply on the large classes, the popular nature of the lectures, and the failure to attract the manual workers. This criticism was replied to before the commission by Prut. Shellev ■ind myself, and in addition I rebutted the statement through the Press. •‘We have since the foundation ot the movement emphasised the fact that the W.E.A. is purely an educational institution, and that propaganda of any kind is foreign to it's purpose. The tutors are employed by the cof'ege councils, and this should he sufficient guarantee that the education given m the classes is of the highest possible standard. “The best thing that 1 can suggest :.s to ask Councillor Messana to prove his statements: that is. who is Prof. Scott, when were the statements made, and where? • “Tn the N.Z. Worker I am called upon nearly every week to answer the charge that we are a capitalistic organisation, therefore on the one hand we are charged in Eltham with being supporters of the Russian flag, and on the other hand we are accused of supportin<r capitalists. W hen we are accused bv both sides it is proof positive that the movement is on the right- lines and doing the work that it- was called into being to perform, that is, ‘To offer to the workers of this country the- facilities of a higher education.’ “(Signed) Geo. Manning, “Dominion Sec. W.E.A.”