WORKERS' EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16983, 20 April 1917, Page 8

WORKERS' EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. ■Lho annual meeting oi tue vVorkers' Educational Association was held last even.ng, iVir J. C. Stephens presiding over a good attendance. .tile ivlayor wroto regretting his inability to bo present in order to show his great appreciation of the work that tho association was doing. Dunedin was recognised a-s tho educational centre ol tlie dominion, and ho was conlident that tins movement of tutorial classes would largely inereaso the reputation tho city had in. tins direction, as well ;ia furthering its commercial and manufacturing progress. The Chairman, in moving tho adoption of tho report, said that Jfrofcssor Bedtord had suggested that tho classes should bo open to visitors, particularly those interested in tho study of eeonomioj. Ho was sure they would be most wolcome. Tho Workers' Educatiouh.l Association was started in 1903 :n England, and originated out of the ranks of labour, from which emerged a band of men and women determined at all costs to acquire truth through knowedgo. A conference was held at Oxford, and an association was formed, having for its object tho dissemination of knowledge among all classes. Tho first work dono was the institution of Lectures on the lines of the University Extension Movement. Tho tutorial classes followed, and thoso had borne good fruit. A groat number of tho students joined tho classes formed for" the study of economics. Whether it was that some of thom were actuated with a desiro to sharpen their weapons for industrial warfare ho did not know, and ho certainly did not core. It seemed to him that truth had nothing to fear, and that the worker wlio was educated on sound economic principles was a greater asset to tho State than tho man actuated by empirical forces The association in Dunediu was formed in March, 1915, and there were now similar associations throughout New Zealand. There were advantages to bo gained from these tutorial classes. ■It was gratifying to see a very much better attendance at this annual meeting than there was at tho last annual meeting, which, ho thought, was an evidence that there was a growing estimation of work of the association.

Ho had been in touch with the classes, and could say they were doing really sound work. The position, so far as linanco was concerned, was that the funds out of which the tutors wore paid wove provided by the University of New Zealand, but they were not unlimited. They had now formed five classes in otago arid Southland, and the expenses of those classes amounted to practically the whole sum at their disposal. Ho presumed that there would not bo any objection to those who desired to study the subjects which wore dealt with by the threo classes in Dunedin, but so far as economics was concerned he would say there would bo a distinct disadvantage because this class was supposed to bp created for a term of three years. If there was a strong desire to form new classes for the study of any particular subject, the association would do its best to obtain the funds out of which to pay a tutor for these classes. To obtain these funds they would have practically to depend upon tho Government, and they believed at the same time that the Government would come to the assistance of tho tutorial movement in New Zealand. Whether the Government would give this assistance during the war was another question, but tho committee would do its best to secure the necessary funds. Mr Stephens paid a tribute to tho good work done by Mr Stables, the secretary and treasurer. Dr Bedford seconded the motion,, which was carried. The balance sheet, which showed a crcdit of £8 10s 6d, was adopted. Tho following officers were clected: — President, Mr J. C. Stephens; vice-prcsi-dent, Rev. A. Cameron; secretary and treasurer, Mr J. "W. Stables: Messrs Ferguson and Triggs (representing tho individual members of the association). Votes of thanks were accorded the City Council for the use of tho Town Hall, and Mr Kellett and Miss Challis for the assistance they 'had given Mr Stables in his work. Tho meeting was addressed by Professor Bedford, Archdeacon Woodthorpe, and Mr James_ Jeffery on the work done during the •year in their different classes. Each at the conclusion received a hearty vote of thanks. A vote of thanlcz was accorded the officers for the work done by them during tho year.