THE ASSOCIATION’S WORK.

Wairarapa Age, 15 June 1931, Page 4

THE ASSOCIATION’S WORK.

Sir,—Since the W.E.A. has been the subject of comment in the Press columns, it may be well that some of the facts be made known. There is no warrant for the assumption that the association is limited, or ought to be limited, to manual workers. All the members and attenders are workers. To make class distinctions of any sort would be impossible. The current course is the study of good literature. This literature is illustrated by play-read-ings. We are fortunate in having here people of education who act as voluntary exponents. The W.E.A. has asked such people to illustrate the literature to the ordinary members and audience generally. And naturally, the better the exponents, the better the lesson. As for the use of this literature to the ordinary persons: (1) The great writers treat of real, everyday, pressing problems on whose solution our civilisation, perhaps our very lives, depends. Now, of all times, there is a .pressing multitude of questions in want of settlement. Not one of these has escaped the notice of our great writers. (2) Good literature provides a great resource to all who can acquire the taste. The increase of contentment and happiness alone would make it more than merely worth while. (3) Good literature has in itself an ennobling and civilising effect. Mobs, in the usual significance of the term, could never be composed of readers of good literature. This literature course is not all. For the next course (a long one) it is proposed that our staff-tutor, who has spent years in the East, give us a comparative study ?£ '‘Last and West.” More yet, the W.E.A. has to offer. There are the study groups, small groups of .people to study mutually the economic and other problems of the day. These studies are directly concrete and practical. With many thanks for your valuable space.— I am, etc., F. ROCKEL.