University extension and education of workers – Auckland Association formed

Auckland Star, 22 October, 1914 – The wonderful progress which that exceedingly practical organisation, the Workers’ Educational Association, has made in Britain and Australia, is well, known to all who have taken interest in the university extension movement.

When Professor J. J. Findlay, the eminent  educationist passed through Auckland, a few weeks ago on his way home from the meeting of the British Association in Sydney, he made reference to the wonderful work which Mr. Albert Mansbridge was doing in this connection. Last year Mr. Mansbridge, who is general secretary of the Workers’ Educational Association, paid a visit to Australia, and was so successful in his tour that branches of the association were formed in many of the centres.

Professor Atkinson and Mr. D. Stewart — who are the joint secretaries of the Sydney branch of the W.E.A.—are to pay a visit to New Zealand in January next, and to make arrangements for their reception, so that their visit may be utilised to the greatest extent. A meeting of those interested was held in the Trades Hall last night. Representatives of every important trades union in Auckland were present, and there were also present, among others, Professor H. W. Segar. M. J. P. Grossmann, Mr. H. A. E. Milnes and Mr. George George.

It was unanimously decided by those present to form a branch of the Workers’ Educational Association in Auckland, and the following executive committee was set up provisionally:—Hon. Geo. Fowlds, Professor H. W. Segar, Messrs J. P. Groesmann. H. A. E. Milnes, Geo. George, H. R. Urquhart. Jno. Fawcus, E. J. Rudd, W. Manson, T. Bloodworth, Egerton Gill, and Mesdames F. E. Baume, J. Kemp, and Blundell.