LEAGUE DOES EXCITING JOB WITH TEENAGERS The Maniapoto District Council won the Te Puea Trophy for the best report handed in at this year's Maori Women's Welfare League Conference in Napier. In this district there are five branches, each of which have done a great job in their areas. Especially interesting was the report of the Oparure branch, which presents a fresh approach to the handling of the teenagers in a Maori village. We think the Oparure method is well worth adopting elsewhere.

REPORT OF THE OPARURE BRANCH Membership: Patron: Hona Hona; President: Ngaturu Paparahi; Secretary: Rora Paki; Treasurer: Rongo Baker; Members: Caroline Tapara, Te Ra Whare-pua, Hine Cooper, Tahuri Hona. Average Attendance: At the seven meetings throughout the year the average attendance was four (4) and we had held “mock meetings” with a large attendance, to teach our young folk, how to conduct meetings. Since winning the trophy, the Maniapoto Council have won further honours by carrying off at Hamilton the Waikato Winter Show Association's Shield for the best entry in the Maori Welfare League Courts. The shield was handed over to Mrs Waki Kino, as the Council's representative by Mr C. Fraser, Vice-President of the Waikato Show Association who came to Te Kuiti specially for the presentation (Photo: Nelson Irving.) Education: We are very interested in the education of our children and attend meetings of the Parent Teacher groups, both in our local Primary School and in our High School. Some of our members are active on various Sub-Committees of our Primary School Jubilee Committee, and our Branch Secretary has been chosen as Secretary of the Historical Committee and will be responsible for the compilation of the brochure to be printed. But during the latter part of this year our education policy has been one of self education, that is to say, educating ourselves, and our community, to a greater awareness of those personal qualities which must be cultivated, to bring us abreast of the times in which we live, an awareness that will give a new vision of that individual part that must be played by each, if the whole is to tick over, an awareness of the need of others socially and morally, that will help us to unobstrusively raise our standard. Religion: Some of the members are active members of their respective churches taking part in the business affairs of the church and one is the organist of her church. All meetings are opened with prayer and practice evenings for the youth are opened by the singing of various Maori hymns, so that the young people can become acquainted with them. Advertising and Reporting: We have learnt by our own initiative, to insert eye-catching advertisements in the newspapers, and to make up good sized posters, to advertise our own concerts and such, and then to do our own write up after. Home and Garden Competitions: Every member of our Branch will compete this year for the handsome A. W. Low Trophy, for the best kept home and gardens, which was donated by the Mayor some years ago. Talent Quests and Barbecue: During the winter months, the Branch ran a series of four Talent Quests preceded by a haangi