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Te Ao Hou, March 1959, Page 58

somehow always is on them, in this novel. The all-powerful Director, of whom everyone speaks in awed tones is highly praised by one of the visiting educationists: ‘He is a man of sensitive principle’, are the words he uses. Here the tongue is dangerously close to coming out of the cheek. Naturally, much energy is wasted on unsatisfied love—her memories, the Senior Inspector, the feeble Paul all manage to sap her and weaken her. But she is always sustained by the children, admires the core of their Maori character—the ever present aroha in their lives: ‘What are you crying for, Very Little One? I tip her chin. ‘That's why Wiki she's cheeky for me. Wiki. It's always relationship they cry over …. * * …. Livers, all of them, in full measure. Not too much of what is commonly known as work, but oh, the living they accomplish. Because of this preoccupation with the personal relationship the work of many of them doesn't get done. But I cultivate and honour it …. The few European children at the school, on the other hand, she pities: ‘I call white Dennis, a very obedient and clean little boy, who already at five has had a serious nervous illness … Such a little thing with such a big unknown burden.’