W.E.A. WORK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19531, 14 July 1925, Page 3

W.E.A. WORK.

TRENCHANT CRITICISM. “SOP TO DEMOCRATIC FEELING.” (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 13. “It is more or less camouflage, a mere sop to the democratic ideas of the country.” In worde uch as those Professor H. Stewart, Professor of Classics at Canterbury College, made an attack on the Workers’ Educational Ass(sciation in giving evidence before the Now Zealand University Commission to-day. In his written evidence Professor Stewart stated: I am strongly of the opinion that till the manv needs of the colleges are satisfied no increased support should be given to the Workers’ Educational Association and the extension of its work. I believe this work always receives more support than is in the circumstances warranted. Professor Stewart _ the point whether the money given to the W.E.A. by the Government was well expended. He suggested the commission should obtain information as to what proportion of real working men were in the W.E.A. classes and what proportion of the working men were from the Old Country. Professor Stewart said he had not a very intimate acquaintance with the W.E.A. in New Zealand, and so what ho said was only an expression of opinion. He suggested that a large proportion of the W.E.A. students were school teachers, re tired tradesmen, and cultured or semi-cul-tured ladies and people of that typo. They were generally not working men at all. “The W.E.A. functions in New Zea land are different from those undertaken in England,” ho said. “In Liverpool and Camberwell, where I was acquainted with the W.E.A. work, they got into touch with the bona fide working men who had not been able tr get a good education. In this country every child who deserves it is able to go right through to the univorr sity without undue difficulty. The W.E.A work is not really effective- it is supeifioial. It is mere camouflage; it, is not serious work. It is mc-relv a sop to the democratic feeling of the country. The Government should take steps to test the efficacy of the teaching in the W.E.A. I do not suggest the grant should be reduced, but an • extra sum should not be spent in this way. The money should ho spent on the real serious work in the universities in research.”