“A SOP TO DEMOCRACY”

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2732, 14 July 1925, Page 5

“A SOP TO DEMOCRACY”

Value Of W.EA Work Questioned BY CANTERBURY PROFESSOR OF CLASSICS. iPer Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night, "It is -more or less camouflage —a. mere sop to the democratic ideas of this country.” In words such as those. Professor H. Stewart, professor ot Classics at Canterbury College, made an attack oii the Workers’ Educational Association, in giving evidence before tire New Zealand University Commission to-day. In his written evidence, Professor Stewart stated: "I am strongly of opinion that till the many needs of the Colleges are satisfied, no increased support should be given to the Workers’ Educational Association and extension work. I believe this work has always received more support than is, in the circumstances warranted.’ Professor Stewart raised a point as to whether the money given to the W.B.A. by the Government was well expended. He suggested that a commission should obtain information as to what proportion of real working men were in the W.E.A. classes and what proportion of those working men wore from the Old Country. Professor Stewart said he had not a very intimate acquaintance with the W.E.A. in Now Zealand, and so what he said was only an expression of opinion. He suggested that.a large proportion of W.E.A. students were school teachers, retired tradesmen and cultured or semi-cultured ladies and people of that type. They were generally not working men at all. “The W.E.A. functions in New Zealand are different from those - undertaken in England,” he said. "In Liverpool and Camberwell, where I was acquainted with the W.E.A. work, they got into touch with bona fide working men, who had not been able to get a good education. In this country, every child who deserves it is able to go right through to the University without undue difficulty. W.E.A. work is not really effective. It is superficial mere camouflage not serious work. It is merely a sop to the democratic feelings of the country. The Government should take steps to test the efficacy of the teachings in the W.E.A. I do not suggest the grant should be reduced, bur an extra sum should not be spent in this way. The money should be spent on real, serious work in the Universities and in research.”