W.E.A. SUMMER SCHOOL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19682, 27 December 1933, Page 6

W.E.A. SUMMER SCHOOL

CIVIC WELCOME HELD CHRISTCHURCH STUDENTS IN TIMARU More than 100 students of the Christchurch Workers’ Educational Association are quartered at the Girls’ High School, where they are holding their annual summer school. The sessions were begun yesterday when, at an informal function, the director, Professor F. Sinclaire, of Canterbury College, welcomed the new students. The rest of the day was spent In recreation.

In the evening the lecturers and students w r ere accorded a civic welcome by the Mayor (Mr T. W. Satterthwaite), who congratulated them on having again chosen Timaru for their school, which showed that they were well pleased with the town. Fortunately, he was addressing them under conditions which were much improved on those which prevailed when he welcomed the school last year. The outlook was much brighter, and it was to be hoped that the improvement would grow and become a reality and that 1934 would be a prosperous year and 1935 even more prosperous again. The Mayor said that it had been hinted to him that it would be a fine gesture if some sort of concessions could be given the students on the municipal buses for trips to the Bay. or at least into town, and said that he would do his best to carry it into effect. He wished them all a pleasant stay in Timaru, and expressed a hope that when the school closed they would carry away pleasant recollections of it, and that the interchange of opinions and thoughts would be of great benefit to them. He concluded by extending his best wishes for a bright and prosperous New Year. The Rev. Clyde Carr, M.P., associated himself with the welcome extended by the Mayor and congratulated the school on the sense and taste they had exhibited in repeating their visit to Timaru. Mr Carr said that it was suggested that there was a little dilettantism in the W.E.A.. but he was sure the students would take the opportunity to study while they were at the school. The Mayor had made reference to the prospects being a little brighter than they were. Mr Carr said he hoped that was so. but he had his doubts. Unless we had learned the lesson of the depression, he hoped that it would not be over until we did. “If we can’t get beyond this alternation of periods of boom and slump, we are not students and not worthy of the Workers’ Educational Association," added Mr Carr, who said that the Association could profitably hold a special series of lectures on the study of finance and banking. Drama League’s Good Wishes. A welcome on behalf of the South Canterbury Drama League was given the students by Mr A. E. Lawrence, who also extended to them an invitation to attend the sessions of the school of drama which the League was holding in Timaru during the week. Mr Lawrence said that the South Canterbury branch was the senior league of the British Drama League outside Britain, and the drama class of the W.E.A. in Tlmaru was a foundation member of the Timaru body. The League was indebted to the W.E.A. for its support and enthusiasm and particularly to the tutor, Mr W. J. Scott. Mr R. Stewart, president of the Council of the Timaru W.E.A., also welcomed the visiting students and lecturers and assured them of the assistance of the Timaru branch. Mr Stewart then dealt with the importance of the study of economics and concluded by expressing a hope that all would benefit by the period of study during the school. The welcome was acknowledged by Professor Sinclaire, who also thanked Mr Lawrence for the invitation to attend the school of drama. He said that at a meeting held during the afternoon it had been decided to send a message to the drama students inviting them to the lectures at the W.E.A. school.

Mr G. Manning also expressed appreciation of the welcome and paid a warm tribute to the work of the Timaru W.E.A.

A vote of thanks to the speakers was carried by acclamation, after which a short concert programme was presented by the students.