W.E.A. STUDENTS END CAMP AT GERALDINE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18960, 6 January 1930, Page 5

W.E.A. STUDENTS END CAMP AT GERALDINE.

The Geraldine camp of the branches of the W.EA. was brought to a close at the week-end. On Friday morning the three tutors summarised the work of their study circles. Dr Fisher said the most important task of the State was not to do things which individuals were doing already, and to do them a little better, but to do those things which at present were not done at all. Dr Milligan arrived at the stage of the human being as the climax of unitary behaviour. He also forma lated a theory of progress derived from colloidal matter, which serially received impulses from its environment and concluded that additions of new behaviour depended upon the inherent tendency of atomic and mole cular matter to vary spontaneously Consequently education could only be the liberation of powers already in the material. Dr Beeby summed up the present position in regard to the testing of intelligence. Dr Fisher, of Otago University, continuing his series of talks on the Elizabethan era, outlined the main features of its economic life. He said it should always be realised that the grievances of the present had grown out of maladjustments in the past. It was a good thing to develop an historical sense which perceived this Many striking parallels could be drawn between Elizabeth’s economic prob lems and those to be faced to-day. Prdfessor Fisher showed this by his treatment of the growth of towns with rural depopulation, changes in methods causing unemployment, sharp rises in prices, growth of foreign trade, national regulation of wages, trade, and production. Professor Shelley read parrs of Beinard Shaw’s play, “ Saint Joan.” A concert was given by various students, including part-singing and folk danc ing. Professor Shelley and Mr G. Manning expressed the warmest thanks of the school to residents of Geraldine, including the caterers, who had done so much to make the school a success. On Saturday morning the school held its closing session. Professor Shel ley presiding. His topic was the artistic aspects of the sixteenth cen tury. He showed how it was that people first started art collections for their own sake, how experiments of all kinds in music were made, and how ; More’s Utopia expressed the strength of the general desire for the cultural aspect of life. Science and the prac tical arts had grown since then, with a tendency to loss of the more aesthetic viewpoint. To-day a return was needed to the aesthetic approach, which alone could properly express the life and unity of things. Science could analyse, but not create, and in the ultimate issues failed the race. Professor Shelley suggested that next year’s summer school should take as its topic, “ The Approach to Social Reconstruction,” with a booksuch as Morris’s “ News from No where ” as a textbook. From this the economic and political aspects could also be discussed. It might also be possible to have a practical side, with instruction in arts and crafts, in ad dition to the ordinary study circles Illustrated lectures could also be given in the history of art. A discussion followed on the general conduct of the school, and suggestions were made for future camps. Invita«“*ons were received to hold the school at Kaikoura and at Waimate. On behalf of the students. Mr G. W. Camp bell thanked Professor Shellev, Miss Ferguson. Drs Beeby, Fisher and Milligan, and Messrs Laing and Johnson, and G. Manning. Professor Shelley replied. At the concluding meal gifts were made to Mrs Brvant and the caterer’s staff.