WORKERS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18453, 14 January 1922, Page 10

WORKERS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

; , UNIVERSITY TUTORIAL , CLASSES. : (Contributed by the Dunedin Branch' ,of the Workers’ Educational Association.) The Dominion Conference of the W.E.A. met in Christchurch on January 10. Three of the, four district councils were represented, Auckland having ,no delegate. 'The . president (Hr H.' D. Acland) was unable, to attend, and Professor Condliffe acted as chairman. The business, was the, dominion constitution. Otago's main object was to safeguard the freedom of the districts, and the result of the conference is that all di the districts 'are in complete aelf-govcrnmcnt. The constitution decided upon,- indeed; touches only the activities of the dominion body, leaving the districts to control, their own work and the organisation.of classes as' they consider beet. A strong endeavour, was made to confer upon. the Dominion : Council the power of vetoing acts of the district councils, but this was not successful. The vital,clause read thus-: “The work is carried out by means of lectures, tutorial classes, and study circles, and by such other means as the district councils (with tho knowledge of the Dominion Council)’ ma/Trom rime to time determine.”" The Wellington delegates ' sought to substitute the word " knowledge ”..by tho word “approval,” which would, have meant that the sanction of the Dominion Council would' have been essential before important steps could have been taken by the - district councils. :The word “knowledge”: was retained, however. Thus the Dominion Council will be kept in touch with the work of the district councils, and may, if it thinks, fit, express its opinion upon any line of action contemplated by a, district’council, without tho power of actually vetoing such actions. The Dominion Council will nevertheless bo in a position, from its knowledge of the whole movement in Now Zealand, to exercise a wholesome influence upon the districts- . It may suggest avenues of enterprise and, lines of co-ordination. It will be able to stimulate districts that may be backward; .to make arrangements for visits of overseas lecturers; to publish , the dominion annual, report ; to represent the whole movement ,upon, deputations to the Government; to voice the policy and ideals of tho association; to, safeguard and defend it should occasion arise; and to perform many other useful functions. All such work can best be undertaken by a central and representative body, and under the proposed . constitution the, Dominion • Council has ample-scope for all its--talents. It is- proposed-that a dominion conference should he held each year in February. This conference 1 may., be attended by three representatives from, each, district council. The objects of the conference are the election o! the dominion president and secretary and the consideration of any subjects that may be remitted to it by the Dominion Counted. Thus ’the districts, in their turn, retain a united check upon, the central body. The annual conference " will 'be ' a Kind of , dominion clearing-house for the W.E.A. ' At the end 'of the discussion A “That the amended -constitution of the Dominion Council,' (be finally adopted” was. carried unanimously; The constitution will be sent to the District Councils for endorsement. . , At the recent meeting of the Dominion Conference it was intimated that the Government had this year doubled its supplementary grant to the W.E.A. So far as Otago is concerned, this , means, an increase ; of £l5O over the funds .available last, year, making the district total £IOSO instead of £9OO. This is very gratifying, under the circumstances, and will enable ■ the Tutorial Committee to extend its work. The Dominion Conference discussed the question of the locale of the Dominion Council for 1922. Wellington put ,in a strong plea ter the removal of headquarters to the capital city, and made out a very good case. It was decided, however, that for this year at least Christchurch should remain, the centre. Mr H. D. Acland was re-nommated for the office of president, and Mr. Geo. Manning was 1 appointed' secretary. \ It was suggested' that the headquarters ot the association might be situated alternately at -Wellington and Christchurch, on account of the central position of those cities, out no decision was come to upon this-point. The intention is that the annual Dominion Conference in February shall decide the location of the Council for the ensuing year, and appoint the office-bearers. Tho Organising Committee of the Otago District Council will meet at the end of this month and discuss plans of organtsa-ion. The immediate, duty is to piepare the existing classes for opening studies in March or April, but consideration will bo given u> suggested extensions of the work. Necessarily any extensions will depend upon the sanction of the Tutorial Committee; hut the Organising Committee should be prepared to _ say where new classes-may be founded. There is still great scope in the city and suburbs. The committee will be prepared to consider applications from any quarter, although it has not tho power to establish classes. There are still many persons who do not understand that tutorial classes will he formed in any district 'within the limits of the financial- resources upon the application of from 20 to 30 students. Should a few enthusiasts in ■ a particular district desire : to have a class established, a communication addressed to the district organiser • will set matters going. Once the required number of •Indents is enrolled, contingent questions may be decided. Tuition is free. A nominal class foe for current expenses is levied The students determine , the subject, which must be cultural. The scope is wide—history, literature, economics, sociology, political theory, psychology, etc. .The. full course is ‘- i iiciures (one per week), each of one hour’s duration, followed by on hour’s discussion. The tutor is appointed and paid by • the Tutorial Committee, and, the tutor’s credentials, must be the highest available. Already in Otago and Southland over 600 men and women are engaged studying the various subjects offered by the W.B.A. The standard aimed at is that of the university, so that nothing finer than these classes can be conceived of. The purpose of the W.E.A. is to educate men and. women,. and the value of the movement does not altogether rest with the tutor. Rather it consists in a spirit and an atmosphere. The W.E.A. provides the facilities—the tutor, the subject, the opportunity, - But -it io ..the combination of these that results in . education* ■. ■;