City Council and W.E.A.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Your members will have noticed Press reports of the City Council s cancellation of W.E.A. grant. The attitude revealed by remarks of Mayor and Councillors constitute an [unclear: affront] to all citizens concerned with adult education and the cultural [unclear: facilities] of the city. Resentment has been well expressed by a letter in the "Post" from prominent citizens and by a strong article in the "Standard." Some Unions we know have also taken spontaneous action. There could be no better proof that the City Council was mistaken if it expected general support for its attack on the W.E.A.

The cancelled grant amounted to £50. The City Council has made an annual grant for many years. Suspended during the depression, it was resumed at £ 100 a year, suddenly reduced to £25 in 1938 but restored to £50 after a deputation, and has remained at £50 a year since.

No official reason has been given for cancellation but Press reports reveal that the Council objected to the supply of educational material to defaulters' camps. Reports revealed no concern at all for the cultural and educational needs of the citizens of Wellington, the principal object of W.E.A. activity.

The W.E.A. is a voluntary, nonpolitical, non-sectarian movement to provide education for the people. Its work is purely educational, its standards and tutors are controlled by the universities, and its educational services are available to all men and women. People in shops and offices, factories and workshops, schools, farms, villages and cities and in their own homes gladly make use of these services. Where possible classes [unclear: or] lectures are held in prisons or [unclear: similar] institutions. Though a very [unclear: small] part of W.E.A. work this is recognised as valuable.

In its concern for education for all the people, the W.E.A. has ever since the war began been pressing the Government and the military authorities to organise full educational services for the men in the forces. While this would be too big a job for the W.E.A. the fullest co-operation of the W.E.A. has always been offered.

The only connection Wellington W.E.A. has had with defaulters' camps has been to supply to about 50 men in one camp lecture material for study groups organised by the men themselves. The initiatve came from them and their request for lecture courses was dealt with in the ordinary course of our work. The lectures, moreover, are being paid for by men out of funds they have raised.

W.E.A. tutors are not allowed to visit the men or give lectures in the camps.

The Wellington District Council of the W.E.A. desires to draw your attention to the facts and also to its financial position, which is jeopardised by the City Council action. In addition to the loss of the £50 grant we have this year a loss of about £55 due to cancellation of our Summer School last Christmas owing to emergency conditions. The total revenue of Wellington 'W.E.A. last year was £347. You will realise that a reduction of over £100 from two items alone makes the position critical.

Please convey the greetings of the W.E.A. to your organisation.