A Brief History of the Canterbury WEA

The Canterbury Workers' Educational Association (WEA) began in Christchurch in 1915, with the aim of providing university level education to working men and women. It was modelled on the English WEA which had begun in 1903 as a self-governing, co-operative organisation which aimed to take University level education to working men and women. The approach was based on dialogue rather than achievement of qualifications.

The individuals who were responsible for initiating and organising the Canterbury WEA in its early years came from diverse backgrounds. They included the Fabian Christian Socialist, Eveline Cunnington; Ted Howard, Secretary of the General Labourers' Union; Professors James Hight and Charles Chilton from Canterbury College, and lawyer, farmer and member of the Canterbury College Board of Governors, H.D. Acland, who became the President of the Canterbury WEA from 1917 to 1942.

Its early organisers included representatives from local trade unions and Canterbury College (the forerunner of the University of Canterbury). A District Council, with representatives from trade unions and other affiliated organisations, carried out the day to day organisation, while the syllabus, tutors and financial control was organised by a joint committee of the WEA and Canterbury College.

Funding for the WEA came initially from the University of New Zealand through Canterbury College. The first meeting of the District Council was held on 1 April 1915, and by 21 April 1915, 100 students were studying psychology, economics, history and literature.

Three different types of classes were provided by the WEA in its early years: public lectures; tutorial classes and study circles. Tutorial classes were educationally equivalent to a university course. Classes comprised not more than 30 students and consisted of an hour's lecture followed by an hour of discussion. Each class was planned as a three-year course with economics classes accounting for more than half of those held in the 1915 - 1920 period.

Formed during the First World War, the WEA took some years to get firmly established. By the end of 1919 however, there were ten classes underway with an expansion to classes at Timaru and several towns on the West Coast.

For the first twenty or so years of its existence, the WEA provided a unique service. However the passing of the Education Amendment Act (1938) and the Adult Education Act (1947) meant that other agencies began providing adult education, and were competing with the WEA for funding and students.

The 1930s depression was a difficult period, with the Government withdrawing its annual grant in 1932. Increasingly classes were held at Canterbury College with no rent being charged. Despite the depression, the number of classes and study circles still increased from thirteen in 1920, to fifty-five in 1937.

Annual summer schools, first held at Oxford in December 1920, also proved to be highly successful. One reason behind their success was the involvement of the charismatic Professor James Shelley as Director. Another of Shelley's innovations was the 'box scheme' whereby study material, in sturdy wooden boxes, was circulated to small groups in country districts and small towns.

Another significant leader in the organisation was George Manning, organising secretary for 28 years from 1920 to 1948. He was followed by Lincoln Efford, and it was while he was secretary that the Canterbury WEA reached its peak enrolment in 1961, with 3,978 students attending 109 courses.

At first, WEA classes were held in a dingy rented room down a back alley in Hereford Street. From 1924, rooms were rented at the Trades Hall. In the late 1930s the WEA attempted to find ways of purchasing its own building, though the idea was abandoned during the Second World War. Eventually the house at 59 Gloucester Street was purchased in 1957, and has remained the home of the Canterbury WEA ever since.

From 1919 until 1982 (apart from a short period in the 1930s) the Canterbury WEA was supported in its work by Government funding. In 1985 one third of the former level of funding was restored to the WEA, but this was cut altogether in 1991. The financial situation remained difficult throughout the 1990s with much of the administrative work being done by volunteers.

Despite its difficulties, a review of the work of the WEA undertaken in 2000 found that the organisation still pursued its goals with success and enjoyed considerable public support.

In 2007 the Canterbury WEA, governed by its volunteer Council and Executive, and administered by a Co-ordinator and administrative staff, continues to hold up to 80 courses each year, a mix of general adult education, recreational classes and clubs, and lectures and seminars dealing with social, economic and political issues. An independent North-west Branch, based in Bishopdale offers weekly lectures attended by up to 100 people.

Further reading:

Cook, S.M., 'Some Aspects of the History of the W. E. A. in Canterbury New Zealand', MA History thesis, University of New Zealand, 1946.

The W.E.A. in Canterbury, a Jubilee Record 1915 - 1965.

Parsloe, N.A., Eveline Willett Cunnington and the origins of Canterbury WEA, National Council of Adult Education, Wellington, New Zealand, 1971.

Peet , Katherine, 'An Introduction to the W.E.A.', 1989.

Sharfe , Jean E ,. 'The Canterbury Workers' Educational Association: the Origins and Development - 1915 to 1947. A Working Class Organisation? ', MA History thesis, University of Canterbury, 1990.