ADULT EDUCATION.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 193, 15 August 1931, Page 12

ADULT EDUCATION.

Movement Shows Progress in Canterbury. (Contributed.) The extent to which organised adult education is appreciated in New Zealand can be shown by the figures relating to classes formed in the Canterbury and Westland provinces. This session, although the finances of the movement are in a precarious condition, fifty-five classes have been organised, not including the study groups organised by the travelling tutor and the students utilising the travelling library. Of the fifty-five classes formed, twenty are tutorial classes conducted by qualified tutors on definite subjects, while thirty-five are study circles, using the Box Scheme material. The distribution of these classes shows conclusively that the residents of the country districts are now securing facilities for further education In Christchurch there are twelve tutorial classes and two study circles; Ashburton, 3 study circles; Timaru, 3 tutorial classes and 3 study circles; Westland, 6 study circles; Rangiora, l tutorial class; Kaiapoi, 1 tutorial class; New Brighton, 1 tutorial class; Sumner, 2 study circles. The remaining 21 classes a.re in the small townships of Canterbury. The problem of Asia and its peoples wil be analysed in the W.E.A. rooms on Saturday, August 29. when Professor J. Macmillan Brown will give a lecture on that subject. This problem should be of great interest to New Zealanders, seeing that the peoples of Asia, or a large part of them, are practically neighbours to our own nation. TJhe well-being of China and Japan has a direct influence on the prosperity of New Zealand. The executive of the district, council has recommended that visits should be organised to the residence of Sir Heaton Rhodes at Otahuna, and to Lincoln College in the immediate future. These visits should be of great interest to those interested in horticulture and scientific farming. Public Speaking Class.—Some useful instruction on the subject of definitions was given to the students of this class by the tutor (Mr John Rigg) on Monday evening. Mr Rigg gave the rules governing definition, and strongly advised students to learn them by heart. Mr S. Scholefield, of the district council of the W.E.A., who was present by invitation, delivered an address in which he discussed the Port of Lvttelton, the proposed tunnel road, and the construction of a harbour at the estuary. On the motion of the tutor, Mr Scholefield was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. The adjourned debate on the question. “ That a bachelor is happier than a married man ”, provided a good deal of amusement. The students who spoke were Mr J. R. Cox, Miss M. Howard and Mr O. Rowlands. The debate v’as then further adjourned till the next meeting.