IBSEN AND SHAMS.

Wairarapa Age, 26 August 1930, Page 5

IBSEN AND SHAMS.

DISCUSSION *AT MEETING OF W.E.A. VARIOUS TOPICS RAISED.. Some discussion took place at the W.E.A. meeting in the Municipal Social Hall last evening on addresses delivered by the tutor-organiser, Mr. J. A. Brailsford, B.A. Much of what was said related to Mr. Brailsford’s address of a week ago in which he dealt with Ibsen’s attack on shams. While it was at all times thoroughly friendly, the discussion was wide and free in range and on one occasion the chairman (Mr. J. Mulvey) politely but pointedly asked a speaker whether he was standing for Parliament. Mr. H. B. Reid congratulated Mr. Brailsford on the outspoken way in which he had dealt with shams, observing that he knew of no better place for' frankness than the W.E.A.. In some further remarks, Mr. Reid credited the New Zealand provincial Press with more independence than the big metropolitan newspapers which, he said, were financed and dominated by huge monopolies. Mr. Reid said he saw no more necessity for party politics in national than in local body affairs. In the field of education, he added, the Government frequently brought forward excellent proposals, but then large deputations went to Wellington and the Government weakened on its proposals. Some time ago, Mr. Reid observed, Sir Trnby King and the Health Department emphasised the dietetic value of oranges and lemons. The Minister of Customs, however, put a heavy duty on these fruits and keot them from" the people. Touching on what Mr. Brailsford had said at the previous meeting about Catholic children being denied the benefits of dental clinics, Mr. W. Kemp pointed out that any children, within reach of the centres in which the clinics had ben established, could get the assistance of the clinics by attending the State schools. In passing, Mr. Kemp had something critical to sav about the present Health Minister’s claim to Divine inspiration. With reference to some observations by Mr. Brailsford about party government, Mr Kemp said there was no stronger party than the workers' party and they were able to do far more as a party than as individuals. He maintained that an elective executive would not work and would have no weight. As to the clergy and their stipends, Mr. Kemp observed, even little Masterton had been blessed with clergy who, after many years of hard Christian work -n this town, had left it without a penny, notwithstanding that they held leading positions while here. Many of the clergy should be paid greater stipends in furtherance of their Christian work. The chairman (Mr. J. Mulvey) said he thought the whole of the children -n the country should have the benefits of the dental clinics, irrespective of whether they went to private schools or not. Parents whose children went to private schools paid their share, with others, of the taxation that paid for the clinics. Mr. Brailsford said he thought he had erred last week in not pointing out that his criticism was directed at the system and not at individuals. He maintained that the system of depending on advertisements inevitably undermined the independence of the newspaper press. Regarding the question of dental clinics he observed that it would be settled happily if family allowances were paid as of right. These allowances should be sufficient to' enable parents to pay for the education of their children. Parents would then have a choice of schools to which to send their children and this would be immensely better than the existing conditions which gave in many cases no choice at all. Well-informed visitors from overseas did not regard our system of education as one of the best in the world. It was regarded rather as harshly regimented, giving no scope for experimental development and no variety at all. Parents in the conditions he advocated would be able to take more responsibility for the education and upbringing of their children than they were able to take now. Mr. F. E. S. Rockel said he thought the W.E.A. should have free speech, and its members should say what they thought. What we called education was kept often very strongly divorcee} from any fact. Fundamental things were kept out of sight. This state of affairs should be corrected at a W.E.A. meeting.