W.E.A. NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18208, 15 July 1927, Page 10

W.E.A. NOTES.

(Contributed.) An appreciation of adult education has been expressed both by the Employers’ Association and by the trades unions of America. On May 18 last the annual convention of the Association for Adult Education of America met at Cleveland. Mr Sam A. Lewesohn, chairman of the American Management Association, declared: “Adult education is demanded now in business executives and managers. This association approves of adult education as the best factor in the development of business executives. Our meetings and conferences throughout the year are wholly in that line. Papers are read at those meetings by men who are leaders in that line, and discussions are held on them. W e must constantly be on the look-out for bigger and better ideas, and the way to get them is through education. Mr Mathew Woll, vice-president of the Federation of Labour, said: “The old days of hatred and fear have passed away, and education is taking their place, and it must be of the highest order. There are 30,000 unions on this continent, all of whom at least meet once a month. All of their time is not taken up with wage discussions. J hey very often turn into open forums. Education has brought employer and employee closer together, and has taught them to see better the other’s viewpoint, which brings a better understanding. Labour has co-operated with the libraries of the country in furnishing books that its workers want and need. We realise that this is an age of mental development. The American Federation of Labour stands for the advancement in every way of the worker, and we believe that the best way to that advancement is through adult education.”

The same kind of sentiments were expressed at the annual conventions held by the W.E.A. in New Zealand. This proves that adult education is a meeting-ground on which artificial differences among men can be entirely ignored, and their common aim of seeking for truth can be fostered. It has been said by many philosophers that the end of h'fe, or its purpose, is “the harmonious development of the physical, mental and social attributes of man." That being so, there is no greater force leading to the fulfilment of that purpose than a general education. which it is the purpose of the W.E.A. to provide. The varied nature of the subjects taught this year is shown by the formation of a class in social biology. This class meets weekly in the biological department, Canterbury College. The tutor, Mr C. E. Foweraker, 8.A., has traced various biological phenomena and laws to their sources, and discussions have taken place on different types of human action, more especially those related to the organisation of society. Each student in this class has a text-book dealing with the subjects. The Kaiapoi class at its meeting on Wednesday evening studied the life of Wagner, and a few of his productions, namely, “The Flying Dutchman” and “Lohengrin." To illustrate these operas about twelve gramophone records were used. After each record the students were able to discuss the moral purpose that Wagner had behind each of his works, and the attempt which he made to combine into a unity the three arts of music, poetry and action. The class agreed that this was achieved to a great extent in the “Bridal Chorus" of “Lohengrin.” A large audience listened attentively to Dr R. D. Milligan deliver his lecture on “The Present Position of the Cancer Problem” last Saturday evening. The lecturer illustrated his theme with numerous pictures and graphs. The greatest thing of all, stated the lecturer, was the fact “that the average life of man has been considerably extended during the last century. This proves that as the people live to a ripe old age, and as the diagnosis of cancer is being more correctly performed, the reported deaths from cancer are naturally increased. But it only proves that the other causes of death, such as famine, plagues and epidemic diseases, are taking a far less toll than formerly.

The next popular lecture will be given by Dr Coleridge Farr, of Canterbury College, on “A recent visit to Japan." The lecturer was present at the Pan-Pacific Science Congress held in Tokio last year. No doubt Dr Farr will be able to inform the students on the social, industrial and educational aspects of the life of the Japanese. ELOCUTION AND PUBLIC SPEAKING CLASS. The lesson at this class on Monday evening consisted of n short address by the tutor (Mr John Rigg) on the inflections of the voice, and an application of some of the rules governing the rising and falling inflections. The lesson was curtailed for the purpose of allowing Mr R. Macfarlane to deliver a half-hour’s address on “Fascism.”

Speaking of Mussolini, Mr Macfarlane referred to his origin and his career as a Socialist. He made a point of the fact that the “Duce" succeeded in evading military service during the war. The address was marred to some extent by lengthy readings from works on Fascism, but Mr Macfarlane’s conclusion that Fascism was terrorism, and that dictatorship of any kind has nothing to compare with constitutional government, was appreciated by the students present. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Macfarlane, and it was decided that criticism of his address should be deferred till after the debate on China, which had been interrupted, should be concluded. The debate on the question, “That under present conditions foreign interference in China is justifiable’’ was then continued by Mr V. H. T. Goodman and Mr 11. W. Bennett, and Mr C. A. Bloomfield, Mr R. Macfarlane, and Mr M. J. Clark were elected to represent the W.E.A. when this question is debated with Canterbury College Dialectic Society on August 13. It was further decided that the representatives mentioned should support the affirmative side of the question.