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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 79

Workers' Educational Association

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Workers' Educational Association.

President:

  • Dr. Chas. Chilton. Professor of Biology. Canterbury College.

Secretary-Treasurer:

  • Mr. L. G. Whitehead, M.A.

Minute Secretary:

  • Mr. E. J. Howard.

Class Secretaries:

  • Economics Class[gap — ]Mr. J. W. Twoomey.
  • Psychology Class[gap — ]Mr. C. L. Walker.
  • Study Circle[gap — ]Mr. J. W. McCullough.
  • Librarian[gap — ]Mr. F. R. Smith.

Headquarters:

  • 102 Hereford Street, Christchurch.

District Council:

  • Mr. H. Worrall[gap — ]Trades Council.
  • Mr. T. Ford[gap — ]A.S. Carpenters' Union.
  • Mr. E. J. Howard[gap — ]General Labourers' Union.
  • Mr. D. Williamson[gap — ]Canterbury Drivers' Union.
  • Mr. G. S. Whyte[gap — ]Canterbury Carpenters' Union.
  • Mrs. Page[gap — ]Canterbury Women's Institute.
  • Mr. E. Jones[gap — ]Painters' Union.
  • Mr. J. Barlow[gap — ]Furniture Trades' Union.
  • Mr. J. E. Purchase[gap — ]Canterbury Teachers' Institute.
  • Mr. J. Flood[gap — ]Lyttelton Waterside Workers' Union.
  • Mr. P. Hennessy[gap — ]Coal and Timber Yard Union.
  • Mr. J. Jones[gap — ]Bricklayers' Union.
  • Mr. H. W. McKeown[gap — ]Addingtou A.S.R.S.
  • Mr. J. W. Twoomey[gap — ]Economics Class.
  • Mr. L. C. Walker[gap — ]Psychology Class.
  • Mr. G. Anderson[gap — ]Plumbers' Union.
  • Mr. A. McGeorge[gap — ]Engine Drivers' Union.
  • Mr. F. Cartwright[gap — ]Primers' Machinists' Union.page 21
  • Mr. F. C. Mann[gap — ]Amalgamated Society of Engineers.
  • Mr. J. MeCullough[gap — ]Riccarton Study Circle.
  • Mr. W. J. Faro[gap — ]Sydenham Carpenters' Union
  • Mr. Arthur[gap — ]Engineers' Union (No. 2).
  • Mr. F. Ellis[gap — ]Freezing Works Union.
  • Mr. W. Taylor[gap — ]Bootmakers' Union.

University Joint Committee of W.E.A.

  • Dr. Chas. Chilton. Dr. Hight. Mr. H. D. Acland. Mr. Christie. Mr. E. J. Howard. Mr. L. G. Whitehead (Hon. Sec.)

Tutor:

  • Economics Class[gap — ]Mr. .J. B. Condliffe. M.A.
  • Psychology Class[gap — ]Mr. L. G. Whitehead. M.A.
  • Economic Study Circle[gap — ]Mr. D. B. Copland. M.A.
page 22

In submitting the second annual report of the W.E.A. movement in Christchurch, we have to express our satisfaction that the Association has been able to maintain all its activities and has been able to extend its work. This is all the more gratifying when we take into consideration the fact that our Nation at large, and New Zealand in particular, have been passing through the most strenuous period of their history, a period during which the activities of the community have been almost exclusively taken up with the prosecution of the great War.

The Tutorial Classes.

We have had two Tutorial Classes, one in Economics and one in Psychology, both in their second year of existence. The Tutors' reports are given below. In addition to these a Study Circle in economics has been established at Lower Riccarton, under Mr. Copland's charge. So successful has this been that the Joint Committee has decided to raise it to a Tutorial Class in the coming year.

Tutors' Reports.

In his report on the Economics Class, Mr. J. B. Condliffe writes: "The lectures began on the 22nd March and continued weekly until 14th June, being resumed on July 19th and continued until October 25th. In all 28 lectures were given, thirteen in the first term, and fifteen in the second. The number of students remaining on the roll at the end of the session was 34, and in addition there was an absent member who regularly kept in touch with the class.

The attendance was very regular, but owing to the fact that new members were constantly being added to the roll, the average attendance appears lower than it really was. The average attendance was 22 in the first term and 23 in the second.

I am sorry to have to report that the students failed to take advantage of the opportunities for training themselves in essay writing. The response at the beginning of the year was poor, and the essays gradually dwindled away altogether. During the year two debates were held with the College Dialectic Society, and with the Riccarton Study Circle, both of which were won by the class.

There is now a good beginning made towards a working library and when the books now on order come to hand, the library will be very much strengthened. The Class decided to concentrate next session upon a detailed study of the "Distribution of Wealth," and the text book will be "Wealth" by Professor E. Cannan, of the London School of Economics.

I should like to say how gratifying it is to meet week after week a class which shows such earnest and sustained interest in what is not by any means an easy study. The lectures have page 23 dealt with practically every phase of economics as it is taught in the University; but the enthusiasm of the class never seems to flag. The W.E.A. spirit is not lacking even in our local classes."

The report on the Psychology Class is as follows:—

"The first session besan on March 23rd. and ended on August 17th. The meetings were held weekly with one break of a fortnight. The second term began on October 5th and ended on November 23rd. The total number of lectures was 28, of which 21 were in the first and seven in the second term. The roll number at the beginning of the year was 22, and at the end 18. Seven members have left, two having left New Zealand, one having enlisted, three through pressure of work, one through ill health; three new members were admitted during the year. The average attendance was 14, there being in addition an average of five visitors.

Essay work has been disappointing, less than a quarter of the class having written them regularly. Though the subject is a difficult one students have not taken full advantage of this opportunity to express themselves, and so clarify their own ideas.

Our Psychology library is growing and has been well patronised. Unfortunately, owing to the wreck of a liner most of our books, ordered last year, did not arrive till recently. Por the third year of the class a study of Dr. MacDougall's "Social Psychology" is proposed. The members of the Psychology class have shown the keenest interest in the subject, which has embraced every aspect of Psychology as far as is required for the Pass University Degree, with a glance at the Honours' Work. Many members have made practical application of psychological knowledge in their outside experience. Accounts of these have been brought to the Tutor for an expression of opinion. Items of psychological interest, gathered from magazines, etc., have frequently been brought to the class, and have helped to add interest to the work.

Mr. D. B. Copland reports with regard to the Riccarton Study Circle:

"The class has held 18 studies and is now well established. The number on the roll at the beginning of the session was 16, and at the end was 18, four of the original members having resigned. Six members were thus enrolled during the session (average attendance 13). The work of the Circle consisted in a study of the land marks of the Industrial History of England, special attention being given to the period 1760-1900, upon which a series of eight lectures were given. The first ten evenings were devoted to a study of Ashley's 'Economic Organisation of England.' It can be quite unhesitatingly said that most members studied the work closely, while the later lectures always page 24 raised keen discussions from which it was evident that the members were enthusiastic about the subject. The establishment of a Study Circle it Riccarton has been completely successful, and the members look forward with enthusiasm to a course in Economics during the 1017 session."

Other Activities.

In addition to the work already mentioned, the W.E.A. held courses of popular lectures, at which there were good attendances, the audiences sometimes being well over 100. Mr. E. E. Stark, B.Sc., City Electrical Engineer, gave four lectures on the "Electric Motor" in the City Council Test Room. These were so popular that, at the request of his auditors, Mr. Stark later on gave an additional lecture on the same subject. Mr. W tokens, the City Gardener, also save a course on the "Weeping Willow," the "Growing of Vegetables," and on '"Shrubs, Climbers and Plants," at our room in Hereford Street. The Headmaster of the Normal Training College, Mr. C. T. Aschman, save a much appreciated lecture on '"Modern Education." Six lectures on "Town Planning" were delivered under our auspices by Mr. S. Hurst Seager, B.A., F.R.I., in the Old Chemical Theatre at Canterbury College. Mr. Seager prepared for these lectures a beautiful collection of fine lantern slides, and the course was followed with increasing interest. Mrs. T. E. Taylor gave us a lecture on the "Montessori System," a fine collection of apparatus being provided by way of practical illustrations. Dr. Alfred Foster delivered two illuminating and helpful lectures on "Bacteriology and Disease."' Dr. Chilton delivered an extremely useful lecture on our behalf, at the Trades Hall, on the "Christchurch Artesian System." This lecture was repeated at Riccarton, where Mr. R. M. Laing gave a lecture on the "Geology of the fort Hills." The series was concluded by an illustrated lecture on the "Growing of Lucerne," by Mr. H. Bruce.

Our best thanks are due to Mrs. Taylor and the gentlemen who so freely gave their services to our work. We are particularly grateful because sonic of them were put to considerable expense in preparing slides for their lectures.

Before the classes started at the beginning of 1916, we had a "Parliamentary Union" to which most of the class members belonged. Mr. J. McCombs. M.P., kindly presided, and the procedure was exactly the same as that of the House of Representatives. During the course of the year a model Arbitration Court was held. Over this Mr. T. W. Rowe, M.A., LL.B., presided, and the Drivers' Case was conducted by Mr. F. R. Way. Mr. W. E. Woodham and H. Worrall acted as the Judge's assessors.

In addition to the lectures we had three excursions—one to Dean's Bush, where Dr. C. Chilton explained the flora to the excursionists, and one to the Cashmere Hills, where Mr. R. M. page 25 Lading, M.A., B.Sc., showed to the students practical illustrations of his lecture on the "Geology of the Hills." The students also paid a visit to the Christchurch Drainage Farm, under the guidance of Messrs. H. Bruce and C. Walker.

At the end of the first term a social was given to Mr. J. B. Condliffe on the occasion of his approaching marriage. Advantage was taken of the opportunity to make him a presentation. Since that time .Mr. Condliffe has enlisted, and we are sorry that he will not be with us during the coming year.

The local branch of the W.E.A. has suffered much by death during this year. Mr. E. Mann, one of the most promising of our younger students, died suddenly from appendicitis during the early part of the year. No less unexpected was the death of Mr. F. V. Fraser, a very enthusiastic member of our Economics class. But the greatest blow of all was the death of one whom we look on as the foundress of the W.E.A. in Christchurch, Mrs. E. W. Cunnington. Probably Mrs. Cunnington was the most remarkable woman New Zealand has yet had, and it was in her drawing room that the plans for bringing the W.E.A. to this City were first formulated. Though she was full of years and honours, her loss is none the less to be deeply deplored. To the relatives of these members we again offer our deepest sympathy in their loss, which is also ours.

The University Grant.

The Association desires to publicly accord its grateful thanks to the Board of Governors of Canterbury, which set aside £300 out of its grant from the University Senate, for W.E.A. work, and also provided that one of its own College lecturers should take our Economics Class.

City Council Grant.

We again have great pleasure in extending our thanks to the City Council for the second grant of £100 to assist the work of the Association, and also to friends who contributed to the funds. Their generosity alone enabled us to maintain our popular lectures and our own room. We believe that our work, as our report shows, justifies their support.

We have to acknowledge with grateful thanks a gift of £5 worth of books from Mr. Chas. Wells. We are pleased to say that, by arrangement with the Trades Council, a new room has been built for the local W.E.A. in the Trades Hall.

In conclusion, we have to thank the local Newspaper Press for the great assistance it has always willingly given in our work.

Chas. Chilton, President.

L. G. Whitehead,

E. J. Howard.

Joint Secretaries,
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£ s. d. Balance at Bank 36 18 7 Subscriptions and Fees 120 3 0 Sale of Books 6 6 0 Rent of Room 0 5 0 £163 12 7 Furniture and Fittings 0 8 0 Lantern 5 5 0 Printing and advertising 15 6 6 Stamps and Stationery 3 2 5 Text Books 9 14 5 "Highway" 3 0 0 Typing 5 7 0 Canterbury College Lectures 7 7 6 Rent 45 12 6 Caretaker 11 14 0 Light and Fuel 2 13 11 Sundry Expenses 2 3 1 W.E.A. Reports 6 12 0 Balance at Bank 45 6 3 £163 12 7 Audited and found correct. 17th February, 1917. F. ELLIS, W. E. WOODHAM, Auditors.

Statement of Recepits and Expenditure from March 1st, to December 21st. 1916