The Chautauqua Movement.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 6690, 20 August 1919, Page 3

The Chautauqua Movement.

Miss Helen S. Carson and Miss D. June Fowlds (representatives of the' New Zealand Chautauqua System, are at present in Lawrence, endeavouring to organise a Chautauqua h*ere, and at tie Borough Council mooting on Monday night Miss Carson explained that the Chautauqua is an Iriquois Indian word and liti'rallj mean* a jubilee out in the open—and the Chautauqua takes the form of a jubilee, because it u held in a big marquee. It has for its aim she said, the education of the masses. Miss Carson stated that last year, in the North Island, 16 towns had already held a Chautauqua, and each town made arrangements for its return. It is proposed that sixty-flve towns in New Zealand unite on a eieuit to make this possible. Each town will have a Chautauqua for six days and during that time two programmes will be given daily. These will eonsist of lectures on important current questions interspersed with high-class musical items and drama. This movement had, she said, been in existence since 1871 !%td is now a part of the national life in Canada and the United States. It is entirely altruistic and is being registered under the Societies Not for Gain Act in New Zealand. Education, said Miss Carson, is one of . the world's greatest needs, and this organisation, working with the schools and universities etc, brings opportunities to the back doors of the people whieh they could no: get in any other way. A large umber of the towns in Otago and Canterbury have already been organised, but as some of the towns cannot support a full six-day Chautauqua they were dividing the programme, giving, three days ir i ne centre an>) three days in a nearby-town. Lawrenee had been chosen for a thiee-day programme and the same speakers, and artists that would be in Dunedin or other large centres wo\i'.d be here. By each town geting ths saint programms hearing the same lectures, etc, meant giving thousands of peufk the same thoughts, unifying ideas and equalising opportunities. The lecturers and artists' are brought f ""m other countries—England, America, Canada, etc—bringing us a vision of the outside world for just a few pence.

Season tiekets are sold eosting eight shillings for the foil courso and the :ame tiekets can be used in the near contre cooperating. Season tiekets for High School pupils may be had for 55,and for primary schools for 3s. In each town a local committee in formed of the loading citizens to help in the disposal of the tickets to the extent of a guarantee of half of the coat of the Chautauqua. Guarantees had been secured in 15 towns in tie South Wand already, and of the necessary 25 guarantors required for Lawrence twelve had already given their support.

In closing Miss Carso:i said: This movement is non-sectarian and non-par-tisan, and is entirely free from prejudice of any kind; therefore inviting the support of every individual "■When everyone works and nobody shirks you can raise a town from the dead." said Miss Carson as she bade the Council a laughing adieu.