Another Successful MWWL Conference Looking back on the annual conference of the Maori Women's Welfare League in Wellington last April, the most remarkable achievement is that the discussions again rose above the smaller day-to-day issues of branches, and were concerned chiefly with the greater general problems of the Maori race. Attendance of delegates and observers was, as in previous years, enthusiastic; it was obvious that the general airing of subjects like housing, health, education, and other social matters satisfied delegates. The delegates, when at home with their branches, spend most of their time, of course, on the house-craft competitions, money-raising functions, and the cultural activities encouraged by the league. Yet general problems of the people, such as were discussed at the conference—housing, education, health, employment—underlie everything the branches do. In organising a jam-making or taniko-weaving competition, a branch is not merely amusing itself; it is working for a general purpose which may be the raising of housekeeping standards or reviving Maori culture. We may be sure that not so many branches would be active throughout the country at present, if these general aims did not drive them on. Annual conference is the time to think about these greater objects. It is also the time for making representations to the Government, and by far the greater number of conference remits concerned these. Such airing of popular feeling is extremely desirable, and usually welcome to the Government. To the league delegates it provided a common ground and a community of interest which bound them closer together. Mrs Whina Cooper, Dominion President, lost no time in firing the first round. In her welcome address to the Minister, she said: ‘We all know that without your help we would never have succeeded to such an extent,’ rapidly The Minister of Maori Affairs, the Hon. E. B. Corbett, at the social evening during the conference. followed by: ‘I hope you will give us this big thing we want.’ The Minister, in his reply, did not lose his chance of returning the compliment: ‘I would not like to disappoint Mrs Cooper,’ he said. ‘I know what she wants. She wants me to give her the opportunity of a kanikani.’ He praised the results achieved by the Maori Women's Welfare League in such a short time. ‘I have no doubt that the foundations have been well and truly laid, that a sound course has been set, and that achievement cannot be denied. Mr Carroll mentioned that such a conference as this should be made available to the Maori men. That will be done. I shall give them all the help I can. ‘I have been agreeably surprised to see more than one mixed school where either the head boy or the head girl has been a Maori. If that standard can be attained at the age of adolescence, it can be claimed in our future life. It is the duty of government to see that the opportunity to reach these high realms is kept open.’ In the Dominion President's report, proud reference was naturally made to the Auckland housing survey, which had resulted in the doubling of the State housing allocation to Maoris in Auckland. ‘I should like to see that work spread throughout New Zealand,’ Mrs Cooper said. Further points she made were: * ‘Travelling around I noticed a lack of pride in many maraes. I want to stress that marae maintenance can and should be done by the leagues. I have in mind general renovations of meeting-houses, mat-weaving, looking after the kitchen and beautifying the maraes.'