W.E.A. DELEGATES IN CONFERENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18396, 24 February 1928, Page 4

W.E.A. DELEGATES IN CONFERENCE.

ANNUAL REPORT SHOWS MOVEMENT’S PROGRESS

The annual meeting of the Dominion Council of the Workers’ Educational Association was held to-day in the Association’s rooms in the Trades Hall. Mr H. D. Acland, president, was in the chair, and the following delegates attended:—Professor J. Shelley, Messrs IT. Worrall C. R. N. Mackie and N. Richmond (Christchurch), F. C. Jackson and C. J. Bishop (Auckland), Professor T. Hunter, Mrs E. Maslen and Mr M. O’Kane (Wellington). Dr G. Thompson and Mr T. R. Fleming (Otago). The Mayor (the Rev J. K. Archer) attended by invitation. Liberty of Thought and Speech. The Mayor said that the movement was one of his greatest interests. He was pleased to welcome visiting delegates. People in Christchurch were much indebted to educational authorities in the city for their help in the movement. When he was actively engaged in the tutorial work in Christchurch, he found that there was an absence of all suspicion and distrust of his work there. The educational authorities had always stood by him and other stand Mr Acland, Dr Chilton, Professor Shelley and others in this city took up for liberty of thought and liberty of speech,” the Mayor said. Annual Report. “The growth of the W.E.A. movement in this country has reached a point where it should be considered a distinct part of the national system of education.” the annual report stated. ‘‘There were 133 classes formed last session, with 6157 enrolled students. This association, being the only organised movement catering for adult education, has expanded to such a degree that adult education is not a mere pastime for a few enthusiastic students, but, without doubt, a real force in the country at the present time preparing the citizens to undertake intelligently the full responsibilities of citizenship. “In most of the Western countries every citizen is now permitted to take his share of the responsibilities for the well-being of the community through the development of self-government. Therefore, if the community is to pro gress, if it is to be able to adapt itself to the changing conditions in industry and commerce, the individual must be capable of understanding economic laws and tendencies, and must be able to think clearly upon social questions. This fact is indispensable for the success of democracy.” The number of classes had increased during the year by ’ll, -and the number of students by 669. There was hardly a township in the Dominion, except a few small ones in Westland, without its study circle or tutorial class. Amongst men students, married men predominated, followed by shop assistants and office workers. Amongst women students, those engaged in domestic duties were in the greatest numbers. While the movement was appealing to those for whom it -was originally intended, it would be encouraging if trade unionists took greater interest in the association. Finance. The estimated total amount of subscriptions collected from the public and local bodies this year was £2496 11s. In Wellington £657 19s 4d was collected; in Auckland, £B5l 16s sd; in Dunedin, £SOO 13s sd; in Canterbury, £486 Is lOd. In addition to the total of £2496 11s, the local committees secured subscriptions, utilised to meet their own liabilities. The Government assisted the movement with grants of £4900, mainly for the payment of tutors’ salaries, and paid subsidies on private donations forwarded to the Tutorial Class Committees.

The national trade unions, such as the Post and Telegraph Association, £SO, the New Zealand Educational Institute, £SO, the Bank Clerks’ Guild, £5 ss, the Railway Officers’ Institute, £5 ss, had again come to the assistance of the movement. The Railways Board had donated the sum of £lO to the Dominion Council.

The reliance of the movement to such a large extent on public subscriptions was a great source of weakness. There was no security of tenure for the tutors, and it became increasingly difficult to arrange the session’s work in advance. There was no hope whatever of increasing the number of full-time tutors, so that the assistance given by the tutors to the students must be very limited. To make the movement more effective in organisation, to give the students greater assistance in their studies, to give the tutors security of tenure, the Government must soon recognise that adult education should be further assisted financially and placed on a sound basis. The finances of the Canterbury Tutorial Class Committee were so insecure that the committee was compelled to ask the part-time tutors to accept only a half-session’s salary. At the same time the whole of the Westland Province remained without a tutor or W.E.A. class.

‘’The Highway” ha.d been issued regularly throughout the year. The thanks of the Dominion Council were due to Professor T. Hunter, the editor, for his valuable and scholarly editorials, and to Mrs E. Maslem for assisting the editor. Tutors Needed. The movement had expanded to the utmost limit within its financial resources. The need of the future was the employment of more staff tutors if adult education was not to remain simply as a kind of appendage to the education system of this country. It would be necessary in the near future to appeal to the Government for further assistance. With the co-operation of the trades unions, local bodies, business firms and the Government, sufficient funds should be forthcoming to make that system of adult education a real force in the community. •The balance-sheet showed that the income, including a bank balance of £96 10s brought forward, had been £754 0s 6d, and the expenditure £633 2s lid, leaving a credit balance of £l2l 7s 7d. The principal source of income was the Government grant, £SOO, and the principal item of expenditure was grants to district councils, £479 10s. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. _