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Workers' Educational Association

Otago Centre.

President:

• Mr. J. C. Stephens.

Vice-President:

• Rev. A. Cameron.

Secretary and Treasurer:

• Mr. J. W. Stables.

Joint Committee of University Council and W.E.A.

• Rev. A. Cameron, Professors Benham and Malcolm, and Messrs. Eudey, McKinlay. Morrell and Stephens (representing; university); and Messrs. Cope, Ferguson, McCarthy, McCracken, Stables and Triggs.

Tutorial Class Secretaries:

• Modern History Class, Mr. E. J. Taylor, Russell Street, Dunedin; Economics Class (No. 1), Mr. J. W. Stables, Cumberland Street. Dunedin; Economics Class (No. 2). Mr. D. Mercer. Castle Street, Dunedin.

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The year just ended has been quite satisfactory in the work done by Tutorial Classes, which, after all, is perhaps the most important phase of the Association's activities. But outside of this there has been nothing else done. Perhaps the popular public scientific and instructive lectures organised by the University Council throughout the winter somewhat relieves the Executive of the Association from the feeling of necessity of doing other public work in the form of arranging lectures. But there is plenty of room for much educative work by public lectures on subjects more closely allied to our Industrial and economic development, and maybe something in this field will be attempted in the coming winter.

The affiliated Unions and other Associations and membership remain practically the same as last year. The disturbed condition of affairs caused by the War is probably the biggest factor in the general lack of enthusiasm amongst Labour bodies generally towards the Association. Apparently whilst increasing numbers of our young men are being sent away as reinforcements there will not be much chance of any large enrolment of new students.

The thanks of the Association are due to the University Council for their keen interest and general encouragement, whilst all three tutorial classes have to return thanks for the free use of class rooms at the University.

There have been three vigorous Tutorial Classes going all the session, and much good work has been accomplished.

The first Economics Class, started in 1915 under Professor Bedford, has finished its second year with a membership of 27 and an average attendance of 21. The standard of work done has been quite satisfactory to the tutor and the coming session promises to be equally successful with the previous ones.

The following extracts from Professor Bedford's report to the Council illustrates his opinion of the quality of the class work for this second year:

"The greater part of the session was devoted to the principles of money. The interest in the subject grew with the progress of the year and the attendance was better in the last month than in the first. All that I said last year about the zeal, industry and thoroughness of the students is equally true of this year. What has been particularly gratifying has been the disposition of many students to probe deeply into many difficult questions. Indeed the keeness displayed drove me into a treatment of some branches of money as detailed as that required for University candidates for Honours. This will be realised when I say that we spent two months on the subject of "Credit" alone.

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A second Economics Class was formed under the tutorship of Rev. Archdeacon Woodthorpe and the students are to be congratulated on the privilege of studying under a teacher of such wide experience and ability.

The class membership is 25 and the average attendance 20. The following extract from the tutor's official report of the work of the session indicates his opinion of its value:

"Of course the work of the individual students was unequal, on an average I received the fortnightly essay from a little over half the members of the class. Two men have not missed a single essay for the two years of the class's existence. This year some two dozen essays were of very high merit. . . .

".... The hour devoted to free discussion in my class proved again and again Too short. The quality and animation of the discussions was so remarkable that I would recommend they be made the means of advertising the value of the tutorial classes."

"The lectures were followed with keen and intelligent interest, and the questions asked revealed a true desire to understand the bearing of Economic Science on modern problems of finance and industry. . . . Some of the Essays written were of literary merit and I was distinctly impressed by the effort made even by those who were unaccustomed to written work to think out and arrange the points of their essays. The questions submitted to me orally or by letter were very searching, and as many of them were on British Finance and War Policy they required careful treatment. For myself personally I found the question hour stimulating and valuable. . . ."

A third tutorial class was formed to study "Modern European History" and the tutor appointed is Mr. James Jeffery, who on account of a long, successful teaching career and wide journalistic experience is pre-eminently fitted to lead a class in such a subject. The class membership is 25 and the average attendance 20. The lectures were comprehensive and discursive, and as might be expected with Europe in its present condition, the after discussion in the class was keen and pointed, although perhaps at times not always strictly relevant to the subject matter. The study of history to-day should be of absorbing interest to every' thinking person and the class can scarcely fail to be as interesting in its second year as the first.

In addition to the continuance of the classes already formed additional ones in other or even the same subjects will be organised for the coming session, provided sufficient students come forward.