MECHANICS' INSTITUTES.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3348, 17 November 1871, Page 3

MECHANICS' INSTITUTES.

(From the New Zealand Mail) Wk have pointed out in preceding articles that public opinion is more powerful than the law, law courts, or even the Imperial Parliament itself; and in doing so we indicated the necessity for its enlightenment. We have also endeavored to show that not one, but numerous agencies, are required to be brought into operation to effect this object. Amongst these, obviously stand foremost the establishment of day and evening schools, the formation of libiaries and reading-rooms, the delivery of popular and scientific lectures, and the unrestricted circulation of a high-toned and well-conducted newspaper press. Mechanics' Institutes when first established were intended to secure, more or less, directly or indirectly, the whole of these objects ; and, until their novelty wore off, they were to some extent successful. But for a great number of years past they have, both in England and elsewhere, like the one in Wellington, been unable to do more than maintain a lingering existence ; and in many instances they have been quietly permitted to perish. Under ordinary circumstances it might prove worth while to attempt to ascertain what have been the causes which have led to the failure of institutions that appeared so well calculated to afford means of intellectual instruction and recreation to the industrious classes. But, in view of the munificent offer made by the Hon. Mr Waterhouse in aid of the establishment of a Literary Institute at Grey town, in which he has set an example which it is to be hoped will prove contagious amongst members of the Upper House, and in face of the virtual closing of a similar institute at Wellington, such an inquiry appears more than ever desirable. The causes which have led to the failure of such institutions may be classed under two beads. Under the first may be included those having reference to their unsuHability to secure the objects anticipated ; and under the second, those which imply the absence of the requisite qualifications in those who have had their management. Ft will be to the first of these branches that our remarks, in the present article, will chiefly be directed. The founders of Mechanics' Institutes jumped too hastily to the conclusion that the acquisition of useful knowledge would of itself constitute an acceptable relaxation from physical labor. It may, we think, be proved that excessive bodily

exertion Las a worse effect on the mind than excesshe mental exertion has on the body ; that mental exercise, after excessive bodily exertion, ia more difficult and distasteful than bodily exercise after severe study. Tn any case, befoi*c anyone can take a pleasure in reading, he must be able to read with case and facility ; and at best mere reading is but an idle pastime. Before the mind can be improved, or useful knowledge acquired, leisure must not only be afforded for its acquisition, but a taste and desire for its acquisition be created. The richest and most nutritious food will prove unpalatable, and of no benefit, to those who have no appetites and no digestions ; and this holds good as regards food for the mind as well as regards food for the body. To create a desire for knowledge amongst those who spend their lives chiefly in physical labor, it will be necessary for society, or those who lead society, to show that men are valued not in proportion to the length of their purses, the breadth of their acres, or the amount of their credit at the bank ; but in proportion to the enlightenment of their minds, the cultivation of their intellects, the extent of their knowledge, aad the services they are thus enabled to render to their country. Is this the case in England or New Zealand ? Has this been done by the Government when appointing members of the Upper House'? Has this been done by the leaders of society in choosing members of the House of Representatives ? Need we be surprised if mechanics do not value knowledge for its own sake, and appreciate genius as they should, when they observe that wealth and audacity, and not modesty and intellectual worth, are raised to high positions, while a Burns is made a gauger of beer barrels ?

The founders of Mechanics' Institutes, by aiming too high, missed their murk. At first all light literature was carefully excluded, and all popular addresses expressly prohibited. Ultimately it was found necessary to admit standard novels into the library, care being taken to obtain at the same time works of a more solid kind. It was not to be expected that the latter would be so much in demand as the former; but in truth they wore not in demand at all. Sir William Molesworth presented a copy of his splendid edition of Hobbes' works to the Wellington Atheuneum, and years after the event no signs were exhibited that a single leaf in any of the handsome volumes had ever come in contact with a paper knife. At that date not a single member of the institute had ever had the curiosity to even peep into the contents of the work. At another institute we found, as a rule, that the leaves of the best books always remained uncut, and this was the case with a fino edition of Hume's History of England. If standard histories of one's own country are treated in this way, it is not to be expected that graver works will be honored with a perusal. The truth is, that those institutes which confined their operations to the diffusion, by means of books of useful knowledge, have turned out lamentable failures, while those have flourished most where first-class lecturers have been engaged ; where light literature has been provided, where a smokingroom has been opened, where amusements have been permitted, where concerts, readings, and popular addresses have been given, where mutual improvement, debating, and music classes have been formed ; and where, consequently, means for innocent and agreeable relaxation had been provided, at the same time that facilities had beeu afforded for graver studies and more elevated pursuits. If the Religious Tract Society finds it necessary to intermix novels and tales with publications of a more serious character, the founders of People's Libraries cannot be wrong in doing so. If the object in founding Mechanics' Institutes be to afford, not only facilities for reading and study, but such means as will prove most likely to wean men from haunts, habits, and amusements not favordble to the healthy de velopment of character, than it will be found that those above indicated are amongst the best for attaining this end. At the Social Science Congress, held at Edinburgh, Lord Neaves maintained that mere entertainment by itself, and in its simplest and broadest form, was required to wean men from the indulgence of. their mere animal appetites. Upon which the " Times" observed : — •• We have hitherto made sad mistakes in this way. We have been too much afraid of idleness and waste of time — too anxious to improve every hour of leisure, forgetting that no improvement is more important than that of the temper itself. We discovered long ago that the working classes would be the better for useful knowledge. We are only just now discovering that they, and all other classes too, want something more." It should be one of the objects of Mechanics' Institutes to supply this want. It is because they have not dono so that they have in so many instances disappointed the expectations of their founders. The stomach of an infant is better fitted to digest a beefsteak, than the mind of an ignorant laborer to take pleasure in the attempt to solve a problem in Euclid. Lectures by the most able men, on astronomy, botany, biology, chemistry, geology or zoology, illustrated by diagrams and experiments, would do more to enlighten the mind than the careless perusal of all the works that have ever been written on those subjects. It is to the absence of such lectures, and of other means of intellectual and social recreation and diversion, that the non-success of Mechanics' Institutes is chiefly to be ascribed.

But, as we have already intimated, it is not the restricted character and object 3of these institutes alone that has rendered them in so many instances unsuccessful. Those who have had their management have not, as a rule, possessed the requisite qualifications for the work. The worst tool or machine, in the hands of a skilled workman, can

be rendered in some degree effective ; but the best tool, and the most perfect machinery, in the hands of men ignorant of their uses, will prove of no account. Good management in this, as in all other matters, is the most important thing needed. To secure this, the manager, secretary, librarian, or by whatever name he mny be known, should be paid for his services ; and the continuance of his salary be made to tlepcud on the success of the institute. Such an arrangement is necessary in all countries, but more especially in a country like this. Committees, in most cases, have been chosen too much at random ; and as each member depends upon his shave of the work being done by his colleagues, it is soon discovered that what is everybody's business turns out virtually to be nobody's business. If Iho management) therefore, be confided to a committee, it should not consist of more than live members, who, in all cases, should, after due notice, be elected by ballot. Unless this be dcn<>, probably the best and least obtrusive members will be pushed on one side, for the sake of men of social position who may perhaps reside at a distance; when, as has been too frequently witnessed, the whole management falls really into the hands of men who have nothing but lluent tongues, self-concei', or consummate, impudence, to qualify them for t,he positions they have jumped into. The non-success of Mechanics' Institutes, and other kindred societies, has frequently been as much owing to I his as to any other cause to which we have adverted. It is most necessary, therefore, that in future care should be taken to guard against it. That such institutes and societies, under proper management, are capable of conferring many benefits on the community, there cannot be the slightest doubt ; and they will prove not the less, but all the more beneficial, if, instead of turning out students, pedants, and philosophers, they improve the minds, tastes, and dispositions of the members ; effect a change in their customs, habits, and pastimes ; and aid them in becoming good and intelligent citizens of a free commonwealth.