W.E.A.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 20 July 1925, Page 5

W.E.A.

PROFESSOR STEWART’S CRITICISM

LOCAL OPINIONS As a result of the allegations made by j'rofessor St-owajT, tnao tlie Worktors’ .Educational Association was not being availed. or by tno working classes, a leprcsentauvo ut tlio Timaru “Herald" waited on Mr \Y r . Tliomas, M.A., JjL.il. (Rector of the Boys' High School), and Mr S. Jjang (secretary of the Timaru branch of the New Zealand Labour Party) to obtain their opinion. Mr Thomas said he did not know what experience Professor Stewart had met with in W.E.A. work, or how he had formed his opinions. Therefore, ho was not in a position to criticise. Prom his own observations he considered the W.E.A. classes to bo a. benefit to the community. However, many people had the wrong impression, that by the term “workers" was meant persons who took olf their coats to work. That was not necessarily the ipcaning of tho word. The W.E.A. was open to all, and in Timaru it had, had the result of awakening into intellectual life a number of people, who otherwise I would have stagnated and remained ; narrow-minded m their views. In past I years ho had attended the lectures, and in his opinion, one could only be pleased with tho manner in which diilicult problems were tackled. Of course, m classes such as economics, there were hound to he differences of opinion, but if those were not present little progress would be made. The classes in 'Jimaru, said Mr Thomas, were certainly doing a great deal of good. People in every grade of life attended, and there was no doubt that the movement deserved the support of every educational body. As Jar as Timaru was concerned, Mr Thomas advocated an extension of the classes, the engagement of an assistant tutor, and a monthly visit of inspection from the professors. Js such a suggestion ■wars adopted, the \\ .L.A. would ho enabled to do excellent work with extra-mural students. At present it was a great pity that the young men did not avail themselves of the opportunity of attending the classes. In the University cities it was all very well to talk of the W.E.A., but what lie would like to see was class extension so that teachers, legal, and accountancy itudcnts would receive personal supervision in their studies. It was extremely difficult for one to ttudy away from the University. Eor one thing the incentive gained from the personality of the professor was lacking, ami for that reason study was not likely to have the best results. Only those of strong physique could .stand the strain. Mr Lang said that apparently Professor Stewart was labouring under a inisapprche.ii.sion in his criticism of the W.K A., for ilie Association was receiving Ll lO whole hearted support ol tho Labour Party, “.in iact," .said Mr. Lang, “llie Labour Unions are affiliated with the W.E.A." Ihe classes in Timaru. although verv succosslul, were not as well attended as they, may he. Si ill. (lie Association was serving a useful function, and there was no doubt that i’ was “delivering the. goods.’ Tina Labour Parte would be plea-ed fn see more of the working class< s attending tho lord u res.