Drawing by Reweti Hagger. 2 It has made the work and function of the Club more widely known to outsiders. The Club in recent years has progressed considerably, both in strength of numbers and strength of purpose. This year the inclusion of the Maori Club as an integral part of the whole College club organisation seems to be a definite landmark in its development. Most of our activities so far this year have been with an eye to making a success of the production of our play, ‘Ponga and Puhihuia’, to be put on at the end of the year.

PURPOSE OF THE WRITING COMMITTEE (By Wattie Watling) I came to Training College from Kaikohe, North Auckland, in 1952, and am now completing my second year there. I had five years at Te Aute College, and after a year at University decided to take up teaching. This play we are about to produce had its origin on the day I saw Mr Dennant, an English lecturer, about the difficulties which some of the Maori students were having with the English language. Together we discussed the aspects which had proved most troublesome, and from this discussion arrangements were suggested for possible classes for those requiring them. Out of this developed the committee on which several of us volunteered or were nominated to serve, and which discussed the play, ‘Ponga and Puhihuia’, suggested by Mr Dennant. We entered into this new experience with enthusiasm, and several fine written efforts by members, and much work and more script writing by Mr Dennant resulted in the first act before the end of the second term. All work was discussed, and corrected where necessary, by the committee. Casting was completed for the first act before the vacation, and on our return the script for the second act was completed. At the moment casting is in progress for this. My part is that of Elder I, with the opening speech telling our warriors to defend the pa against the visiting party from Awhitu.

ACTING PONGA'S PART (By Frank McPherson) I come from Ahipara, about ten miles from Kaitaia, at the southern end of Ninety Mile Beach, and went to St. Stephen's School, Bombay, for three years, to Kaitaia College for a further two years, entering Training College in 1952. I was invited to join the Maori Club Committee to help write the play, ‘Ponga and Puhihuia’, contributing ideas about the customs of the old-time Maori. I helped to write speeches for Ponga and the Ariki. We wanted as many speeches as possible, because each speech was certain to contain some genuine Maori lore, and if these good points were put together the play would be ‘right’. Many contributions were received. In the play I have the part of Ponga. I am taking part-time studies at Auckland University College. Last year I passed in Maori I and Anthropology I. This year I am taking Education I and Anthropology II. The Anthropology course at University, I find, has much to do with the Maori people, their customs, problems, social life and so on. It also gives an insight into the attitudes of the Pakeha to the Maori, and vice-versa — what each should do to adjust themselves to living together in friendship and mutual respect. EDITOR'S NOTE: We feel that the enthusiasm of Mr Dennant and his students may lead to a most fruitful social activity in Maori communities. There are many groups who could start a drama group right now and Mr Dennant's students could start them wherever they go.