Mutual Improvement Societies.

Otago Witness, Issue 1934, 19 March 1891, Page 35

Mutual Improvement Societies.

I have been told that in the country districts committees of these societies often find it difficult to draw up a variety syllabus. As many of my young readers are no doubt interested in these associations I'll give a rough draft drawn up for one just outside of Dunedin, and then a few notes. In return, I'll ask you for any suggestions you can give me to render these societies more attractive and U3ef ul. The syllabus appended is for 26 nights : —

I. Social. Thia may consist of a variety entertainment. A cup of coffee and sandwich handed round during 'the interval makes the entertainment bonaely and cosy, ■2, Out ideal hall and how to get it up, 3. Trades. No. 1, lifchographv. 4. Questions of the day. No, 1, Booth's Sooial Scheme. 5 Osveu tha Socialist. (On night five, all wanting a little information oh any subject send in queries to tha chairman. These are taken up by members and answered on night Beven). 6. Forgotten geniuses, 7. Question box. 8. Paper on Captain Cook's voyage round New Zealand. 9. Questions of day. No 2., Women's franchise. This ib to be dealt with in six fiveminute essays— three by gentlemen, three by ladies ; one of the gentlemen and one of the ladies to differ with the other two of their sex. Es3ayß to receive criticism. 10. Trades. No 2, printing. 11. Ladies' and gentlemen's social. The first half to be got up by gentlemen and the second by ladies. In some associations the gentlemen got up an evening's entertainment and the ladies another. Thia oreates a healthy rivalry. 12. Notepaper eesaya by ladies, 13. Questions of the day. No, 3, Co-opera-tion. I 14. Lactura : Tennyson. 15. Question box. 16. Tradeß. No. S.briokmaking.' 17. Questions of the day. No. 4, Monarohy or Republicanism. 18. Scotch night (Scotch songs, readings and reoitatione). English, Irish, American, and Cotoßwl nights might also be worked in,

19. How can the influenoa of our association be more widely extended ? 20. Lecture, 21. Questions of the day. No. 5, Trade - Unions : their proper funotions and present defects. 22. Bttainess night. 23. Leoture on chemistry. 24. Questions of the day. No. 6, Austral' asian Federation and Independence, or Imperial Federation. 25. Leoture on explosives. 26. Sooial. In addition to these, essays on novel read* ii Q g» poets, astronomy, historical events, and so on might be arranged. In the above programme two series of papers are given. Similarly series of papers might be written on — church statesmen, snch as Langton, a'Becket, Wolsey ; on men of action, such as Wellington, Marlborough, Gordon ; or on statesmen, aa Peel, Gladstone, Beaconsfield, Parlour games. Biblical lectures, criticisms on review articles oould also be worked in. I think it would be beneficial if associations elected a committee of ladies as well as of gentlemen so that their wishes may be met. Generally, I think, the ladies are left out. When ladies are on the same committee as gentlemen they are in the minority, besides that they do not always care to speak freely before a committee of men. Each could draw up a programme then both could meet and give and take. I shall be very glad if all secretaries will send me their addresses. I intend in a week or two to publish their names, the association they belong to, and their addresses. They can then by post exchange syllabuses and suggestions, and possibly in other ways assist one another very materially. I shall also be very glad to receive suggestions, and even short papers on the subjects set apart for nights 2 and 19 in the syllabus given above. Will you all, old and young, aßsist me to put before my readers some good suggestions on them ?