THE W.E.A.

Wairarapa Age, 21 December 1932, Page 7

THE W.E.A.

WORK TO BE CONTINUED NEXT YEAR. ACTIVITIES OP LAST SESSION. The lectures and study courses for adults carried- on under the direction of the University by the W.E.A. (Workers’ Educational Association), are to be continued next year in this district. All Government assistance having been withdrawn, the University authorities have only a small revenue from Na*ionc. Endowment with which to finance the work.

rhe annua! report states that Masterton during the past year had again a full season of W.E.A. lectures and i drama-readings. The season opened with the course of ‘‘The World Since the War,” by the travelling tutor, Mr. J. A. Brailsford. Attendances were well maintained and the average of 71 was the highest for any course in the university district. The second course was conducted by Mr. H. B. Tomlinson, M.A., who gave a series of addresses dealing with the “Progress of Poetry.” These lectures were illustrated with poems read by members of the Reading Circlb. Mr. A. Clemas gave a lecture on “Book Collecting as a Hobby.” The third course on ‘ ‘ The Economic Crisis in N.Z. ’ ’ consisted of three lectures given by Prof. T. Hunter, M.A., M.Sc., Mr. W. J. Franklyn, and Mr. G. W. Morice, M.A. The final lecture was given by Mr. J. H. Preston, who spoke on “Aerodynamics, etc.” The branch is indebted to these lecturers for their effective and, in some cases, voluntary service. A small group of men took up the study of twelve papers on “World Problems,” prepared as a discussion course by university people. The group exchanged views by correspondence with the tutor-organiser. The correspondence secretary, Mr. F. Jones, expressed the group’s satisfaction with the material and the discussions evoked. All the local work has been done by an energetic voluntary executive, with Mrs T. R. Barrer as president, and Miss W. M. Miller as secretary. Miss Kitchener was secretary of the drama group.

The excellent publicity given by the Masterton papers was of great assistance to the movement. Financially the year was rather unsatisfactory, an unexpected setback being suffered in the complete withdrawal of the grant of £5O which has been forthcoming for some years from the Trust Lands Trust. It was only by virtue of funds carried over from last year that the branch was able to meet its full obligation to the University College. The Trustees have agreed to reconsider the claims of the Association next year. Other places in the Wairarapa where the W. E.A. operates are Carterton, Greytown, Featherston, Martinborough and Pahiatua, where the movement is quite strong. The Reading Circle, which is affiliated to the British Drama League, opened its year with the reading of the three winning plays of the W.E.A. drama competition. Several plays, some of which were dramatised, were read during the year. A team, under the direction of Mrs S. J. Smith, produced the one-act play “Nerves,” with a view to competing in the Hawke’s Bay Drama Festival. The members enjoyed their year's work. On two occasions Miss Elizabeth Blake visited Masterton, under the auspices of the W.E.A. On her first visit she

gave a recital of “Cavalcade” by Noel Coward, and on her second, accompan-

ied by her players, produced three onefiet plays. Miss Blake is to open the 1933 season with a recital dealing with “Shakespeare's Women.”