WORKERS' EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17239, 15 February 1918, Page 8

WORKERS' EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

AJN'NUAL .MEJiTLN'G. Tli3 anmuU mooting of tho Duiiedm LroJiali of tiio Auvv /calami Workers' Jvlu-i-aliou;il Asfcroenaum v.;u> held lu.it (.'veiling in tin) 'iowii Kail, iii .J. (J. btLj-mnb presiding over «i fair attendance ol mcmborb.

liio (_'h<unna.n, m moving tiio auoption of tiio rupoi'l/ and balance bhcut, .sajd tno lussoeuttiou bought Uj aiou.se tlio interest of llio workers in iugjier ctiuou-uoii, "lid 1,10I ,10 v ide<J the means to ena.l)lo ulu-m v> no uo-s-irtd that education to obtain it. Ttn.s (ney tried to equip tiio mviiiljoi'd of their ciu.-.se3 with not only increase*!! kaowlu^^t , I ui, 'iiciouoed nieuU;! jK>wer, to tiuu, ior instance, they might, bo better abio to du:ii vi tii tiic probiems of social betterment, problems that would bo very insistent ior .solution alter tho war. llio standard of education wus tiiat of the university, an-d wherever possible a univorstiy piole.s&or was appointed tutor. It was probably a uUirtiing suggestion when, tir&t made that thoonniiLry woiking nioji, whatever liis previous oducu tiou should enter upon studies in the subjects embraced in the curriculum under tutors of the highest scholastic attainments on university lines and- to a university standard. But while ic wail too nmch to expect that all would become experts, the Workers' Educational Association bad proved that t!io working class was crowded with potentially fine senolais. 'ihe stud-tuts were l.ot su-bject to any charge, except a nomin.nl sum for class management. The hinds for the tutors' lees were provided by tho University of New Zealand. The results obtained iii Dunedin iindi Invorcargill appeared to com|>are favourably with thosa obtained by other brandies of tlio associtiou Professor Bedford said of his eiits* lit the end of 1915. "At times the discussions were highly illuminating, and tho criticism of students again and again forced me to reconsider my own conclusions on economic problems. . . There wore about half a dozen o-ssays of a quality as h>gh r.s any I havo been privileged to receive from university students. It was recognised that the class was a body of men searching for tho truth, and there was evinced a mo'rt commendable readiness to accept the tiiitn. however unpalatable, onco its logic was seen to bs invincible." So enthusi-atic was this class that it had requested the executivo to continue the class ior a fourth year—one year beyond tho normal period. Whether tliis could bo granted depended partly upon the number of new students oliering, and partly on financial considerations. He thought it would bo a groat pity if a body of such enthusiastic students as they had proved themselves to bo should bo provented from continuing their studios. In 1916 two new classes wcro formed, ono in economics under Archdeacon Woodthorpo. Mid one in history under Mr J. jeffery. Archdeacon Woodthorpc's class marted t:;e year with a members-nip of 28 ami finished tho second year with a membership of 40, 22 of these- being original members. _ Tho archdeacon's opinion ot the work of his class was no less enthusiastic than Dγ Bedford's of his. The report showed that this was a very live class, and that the members were not content with accepting the benefit which membership give to them, but wore taking active steps to extend tlio work of the aeso eiation. The history class was their one failure. It started with 25 members, but ccasodi to exist early in 1917. This was attributed to various causes, not the least Icing removals from the district, and tlio pr.ictic.il stoppage of the fcuburb'ia train service. In lnverctu-gill two classes were formed m 1915—one in economics and one in English literature—with a starting member-, ship of 21 and 27 respectively. Fifty_ por'cent, of the original members still and the reports of the tutors bore witness to tho earnestness and progress of the members of tho classes. The fact that such a measure of success could ho attained during the war period s-howed that there wouldi rxs a wide-' gphero of usefulness open to tho association when the war was over. Activities wero limited by finances. Whether they would be ablo to provido tutors for new classes this year would depend on the number offering and the subjects which the new students desired to study. It was quito evident thai the association could not occupy its full sphere of usefulness without an addition to tho funds provided by the New Zealand University. Tho Government had been approached, but tho association had been tokl to come back after the war. Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Inyercargill received grants from tho municipal council. iho Dunedin Council had not so far been asked for a grant. When they found it necessary to do so lie felt sure that that body would consider tho request sympathetically. Thero were two directions, he thought, in wnicii an improvement might bo mado without waiting until after tho war. There were between SO and 40 trade unions in Dunedm, and only 12 were affiliated to the association. Ho was sure that the others wero not antagonistic, and it must bo because they did not realise that the association was formed primarily for the benefit of tho workers and that it had very great possibilities not only in the interests o£ tho workers but of the Stato generally Individual members of the association only numbered 20, which showed that all tho class members wcro not members of tho association. After the war he hoped to seo a great extension of the work of tho association, not only by an increase of classes but by the creation of subsidiary study circles, and_ by more or less frequent public lectures. He hoped then to rco tho appointment as organising secretary for tho dominion of a man highly trained InVV.E.A. organisation and propaganda and in tutorial methods. Ho believed that tho time was coming when tho work would be too big for any voluntary association to handle, and that it must eventually be taken over by the Government as part of the educational system of the dominion Mr TVi'.Tgs seconded tho motion, whach was carried. KLECTION OF OFFICERS. Tho following officers were elected: — President, Mr J. C. Stephens (re-elected); vice-president, Rev. Andrew Cameron; secretary and treasurer, Mr J. W. Stables (re-elected) ; industrial members' representative on the executive, Messrs I*. C. T'riggs and R. .Ferguson. 4t the conclusion of the business Miss Oollison. representing the W.E.A. in New .South Wales, who was present by invitation, addressed tho assemblage on the strides the association was making in Sydney. She pointed out that classes and read,irvT circles were established for thost' desiring to study any subject. The movement was a big 'one. It stood for big things, n'nei was causing a fusion of tho people and showing them that life was not meant ro be "all"grab and no grving,' , but that it waa just as nice a thing to give as it was to grub. Miss Collison was acorded a hearty vote of thanks at the conclusion of her remarks.