KINDERGARTEN FOR OPARURE by Rora Paki Children playing with toys of proven educational value at the Oparure kindergarten sponsored by the Maori Women's Welfare League. (Photo: Desgranges). It all began at the conference of Maori Women's Welfare Leagues, held at Auckland in 1952, through an address by the Senior Inspector of Maori Schools, Mr W. Parsonage. After giving much good, sound advice, which must have touched every mother's heart, Mr Parsonage said: “We cannot teach children who are absent, we are not clever enough for that. This is something you mothers can do—get your children to school every school day and keep them healthy so that they miss as few days as possible. Self help is a great thing. We have not got a Maori kindergarten on record. Review the situation in your own districts.” This was where our little “kindy” had its origin. The delegates came home weary but happy, to sort out their notes, and in doing so, live again the hours at conference. So it was, that our little branch heard about the idea of a “kindy”, at the very first meeting after conference, amid much laughter and joking. “Fancy us attempting to start a Kindy!” More laughter and speculation, while the delegates put forward all the pros and cons. Impossible! The poor delegate could not even raise a seconder, and so the whole idea was dropped. But later, when the opportunity arose, it was again put before the little branch, and again brought forth much laughter and speculation. At last the delegate, like the importunate widow of the parable, prevailed, and it was decided that the “Kindy” should operate every Wednesday until interest could be aroused and then it could operate on Fridays, and so allow mothers to go to town unencumbered, for the weekend shopping. A sum of money was allotted to the “teacher” for the purchase of any necessities such as a first-aid kit, comprising bandages, scissors, burn salve, mercurochrome, acriflavin, cotton wool, lint, peroxide, and optulle dressings and several types of sticking plaster, etc., a huge coloured ball, the envy of all the primary children, and some pretty coloured stickers—not much to start a “kindy” with, but it was enough. Then the news was spread around the district,