W.E.A.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16508, 19 August 1921, Page 9

W.E.A.

| THE WEST COAST GLASSES. (Contributed.) Last week the secretary visted the AYest Coast in company with Air IT. Belshaw, the new tutor, who commenced his work in Reefton on August 8. The three economic classes were visited. At Reefton there is a good mixture of - the professions and manual labour represented by the students. The secretary of the class, who hag performed good work in organising the W.E.A. in Reefton, is an Anglican clergyman, while there is associated with him in the economic class a brother minister, representing the Alethodisfc Church. There are three Marxian j students, who are coal miners, while the j gold miners have two or three to th'eir account. Then there are a- number of miscellaneous occupations, while school ! teachers are also represented. Air Bclshaw* was welcomed to Reefton by Mr | Carroll and Air Stephenson, members of ; the-County Council, on behalf of the rc- ; sidents of Reefton. They stated that 1 the AY.K.A. was destined to be of great service to the workers on the Coast, and hoped that Air Belshaw would soon have many more classes in session. Air Belshaw replied, stating that with the cooperation of the students, he looked forward to some good times together. His first lecture was on “ The Scope and Subject Afatter of Economics.” The lecturer was followed very attentively by the students, and at the close a discussion took place on the various points raised. There is also a strong literature* class at Reefton, presided I over by the high school mistress.

At Run angst Air Belshaw was wel- ; corned on behalf of the residents, by Air | Patterson, tho Alayor. His class had i arranged a public debate for the even- | ing, the subject being, “ That the Coal Alines of New Zealand should bo Worked on Co-operative Principles.” The speakers were all miners and spoke to j great effect. At the close Air Belshaw j gave a criticism of the various points raised. Air F. O’Flynn, their past tu- [ tor, was accorded a vote of thanks for . his labours with the class in the past. j On Tuesday there was another Mayoral welcome accorded Mr Belshaw, ! this time at Greymouth. The Council Chamber was well filled with intending students, all signifying their intention of taking up economics. The class commenced its work the following Thursday evening, and on Saturday evening the j students of all the Greymouth classes | held a social evening for the purpose of j meeting Air Belshaw. Thus it is evi- I dent that tho AYest ( oast is taking up , tho W.E.A. movement in earnest, and it is to be hoped that next year classes ' will be formed both at Hokitika and j Blackball. The Christchurch classes are all in ! full swing, with the exception of tho j drama class, which has gone into vaca- j tion owing to the illness of their tutor, ; Professor Shelley. The sympathy of i tho whole movement is extended to Pro- I lessor Shelley, and it is to be hoped j that he will soon be back to normal I healfli again. ; The public speaking class has corn- j 1 pleted the passage of the Bill through j tho House to nationalise tho medical j services, and next Tuesday evening i ' there will he a vote of no confidence I I taken in the Government ow ing to its policy on the unemployed question. On j Alonda.v evening a team will debate I at Redd iff s against the Reclrliffs eco- I noinic class. Air A. E. Taylor has again j consented to act as judge.