THE W.E.A.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16330, 20 January 1921, Page 2

THE W.E.A.

A CHRISTCHURCH APPOINTMENT. CRITICISED BY SIR ROBERT STOUT. SUPPORTERS IN SEN ATE. { PER PR ESS A SSOCIATION. i \A ELLINGTON, January 19. Discussing in his aunual report to the Senate of the University of New Zealand the progress of the Workers’ Educational Association the Chancellor (Sir .Robert. Stout) criticised strongly the use of the association as a medium of propaganda. “1 nave not yet seen the reports of the AVorkers’ Educational Association from the Auckland University College and the Canterbury College,” he said. " The Otago University and the Victoria University College have sent in their reports. So far as I can judge, from the list of tutors, the Otago University has been successful in obtaining able and competent teachers, most of them have University degrees. The Victoria University College lias been equally successful. .1 notice however that one Teacher of Economics docs not

seem to have any University standing though he may be a competent in structor. In tlie report of the Yic.torir University College Committee it i; stated that there is a weakness displayed in all the classes through the absence of written work, and that th* I students do not seem to consider the j study so seriously as should be done. } "During the year considerable disI mission has appeared in the public Press regarding the appointment of one of tlie instructors in Economics in Canterbury. Ho docs not seem to be a University graduate, and judging by his public utterances lie is a Marxian in theory and may properly be termed a * ievolutionary communist.’ A\*e know that there are at present in every country m the world propagandists who desire to see the present industrial life of the community changed, and that by forcible means, if necessary. In my opinion these AVorkers’ Educational Classes will not be ‘beneficial to our people if iliey are conducted by revolutionaries. There can. he no progress •without order, as Comte long ago pointed out, and 1 do wot Hi ink the University should use its fund.® for the propogation of any special economic theory and especially

should not lend its aid to a propaganda of revolution. A teacher of economics should bo able to place before the students a history of the subject. and the different views held by writers on economics. A true teacher will not he a propagandist of any special theory : hr- ought to lie a man who can fairly and honestly place before the students all the different economic theories. •‘J d-o think that the University 'V'tjld in i-: upon the teachers having nit her Univc’-it v status or University diplomas in i.i:c subjects of which thov arc tc.h—-. Tim AVorkers* Educational (ia -- Jvmbl have as teachers the ablest m u or women attainable.” Prof©- or .Atjictnirlan. vice-chancellor, aid 1 1 1 :i t •vhon the matter came up before the Soii;'i" !:r intended to move that ;i committee should lie formed to in vest ira i.c the working of Workers’ Educational Association-'. The Senate should accept responsibility. The committee should inquire into the efficiency of teachers and the association. Professor Hunter (‘Willing ton) op-

posed the Chancellor’* views. He was sorry to see the paragraph in the ( h uiccllor’s report going out to the Press and public without any presentation of the other side of the case. It was liard to realise the tremendous difficulties there had been during the war period in obtaining the right type of . tutor. . not only on account of tlie inadequacy of funds, which prevented tlie offering of reasonable salaries. In regard to 'he particular case Professor Hunter pointed out that, the tutor had been recommended by :i joint committee and the appointment had been sanctioned. There . w ere different opinions arid schools of economics. Ho thought that they were faced with the difficulty that on© section of the community strongly objected to economists of one kind, and another section took just as strong an animosity toward economists of another kind. The proper duty of the Workers’ Educational Association was to endeavour to appoint the most capable man Tor the position and, having appointed him, to leave him absolutely fir©© to teach his classes in his own way. Professor flight also supported Professor Hunter and claimed that Air Archer had not gone to extremes, but rather- the other way. .Air J. C. Adams (Christchurch) elso spoke in favour of Mr Archer. The committee was perfectly satisfied with the way he had conducted the classes. Profe*Pov Bonham thought the Chancellor had made a mistake and moved that the Senate should disagree with the implications in the paragraph*. After further discussion Professor Benham was given leave to withdraw Ill’s motion.