WOMAN beats THE MEN Many people shook their heads when Mrs R. Beazley announced her intention of farming a hundred and fifty-two acres of scrub country at Kaiaua. In 1936 she took advantage of the Maori Land Development Scheme, and although the early years were hard, the property gradually began to look like a dairy farm. Mrs Beazley has just been awarded the 1952 Ahuwhenua Trophy for efficient Maori farming. Mr R. C. Taylor, the extension officer of the Department of Agriculture at Rotorua, who judged the competition, gave Mrs Beazley full marks for her farm records. According to the New Zealand Herald, ‘He considers the fencing adequate for a dairy farm; the water supply and farm shelter good: the milking-shed, yards and equipment, house and surroundings to be of an exceptionally high standard, and the general neatness and cleanliness to be excellent.’ During these busy years Mrs Beazley has found time to be both President and Secretary of the Kaiaua Women's Institute, of which she is the only Maori member.

WOMEN IMPRESS MINISTER Every year the Waikato branches of the Maori Women's Welfare League enter a court for competition at the Waikato Winter Show. This year the challenge shield was won by the Maniapoto District Council. The president, Mrs Te Ra Joseph, received the shield from Mr R. J. Church, the president of the show association, in a ceremony on the marae at Tokonganuianoho, Te Kuiti. Among the guests was the Hon. Mrs Hilda Ross, Minister of Social Welfare, who congratulated the Maniapoto women, and referred to the valuable work being done by the Welfare League. A letter was received from the Hon. E. B. Corbett, saying: ‘As Minister of Maori Affairs, I wish to extend to you my good wishes and congratulations on the success of your work. The achievement of the Maori Women's Welfare League organisation in the struggle for the betterment of their people is one of which they can justifiably be proud. ‘The display of handwork and home craft at the Waikato Winter Show would have been a credit to any body of European women. I was especially pleased to see so much typically Maori among the exhibits. It helps to preserve the “Maoritanga” without which you, as the people, would be the poorer. The better world we seek must come from the home. Therefore, I wish you good luck and God's blessing on your endeavour, both at conference and in the days ahead.’