Maoris than Pakehas), makes all the difference. Though they get on well with their Pakeha mates, they prefer on the whole to work in all Maori groups. They don't like detailed work, such as meat processing jobs, but are very good at the heavy work, like butchering and dressing. The expert teams of ‘tally men’ are 90 per cent Maori, simply because Maoris are usually better at this work than Pakehas. (Maoris don't like the cold, though, it seems; there are few of them in the freezing chambers, even though the pay is good there). In the last few years, Maori workers have been especially encouraged to take on responsible positions, and at present three out of fifteen supervisors are Maori, with seven more training for the job. This is quite different from the situation a few years ago, when Maoris had responsible jobs at the Works, and when things did not always go smoothly as regards the Maori employees there. The change in atmosphere which has occurred since then is due to a new management's intelligent interest in the welfare of their employees; one aspect of this is the especial attention which they have paid to Maori welfare, both as regards the hostel and in other respects. Much of the credit is certainly due to Mr Watene, who came to the Company in the first instance simply as its Welfare Officer, and only by chance found himself concentrating upon Maori problems. Mr Watene, who comes from Auckland (he used to be with Hellaby's there) has done a great deal to improve the situation at the Works. The Company is certainly benefiting from their new policy also; there hasn't been a single work stoppage at the Gear Meat Works in the past four years—and this is a pretty notable record.

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Gisborne's Maori Competitions by Leo Fowler At the beginning of this September the Annual Maori Competitions were held before a capacity audience in the Opera House, Gisborne, for the eleventh year in succession. Some of those who had been six, seven and eight-year-olds in the Primary section when the competitions were first held were, this year, star performers in the front row of the Seniors. To begin with, the Competitions were between teams representing parishes or maraes. The winner of one year's Aggregate Shield became the hosts for next year. They were responsible for organising the Competitions and they took the profit which was made.

Change of Organisation Four years ago the representatives of various teams got together, and, under the lead of some of the more successful teams, decided to put the management of the Competitions under a Central Committee composed of delegates from each performing team. This move was greeted with some misgivings at the start but it has proved very successful. The winning team in gaining the highest number of points, now receives nothing more than the mana which accompanies the Kariatiana Tamararo Shield. But every team, whatever its standard, receives a mileage allowance of 2/- a mile, toward the expense of running buses. With the district now spreading from Waiapu in the North to Maungahaumi in the West and to Wairoa in the South, hiring buses can be an extremely heavy burden. A mileage cheque for £30 to £40 can make all the difference between a team's being able to compete and its having, reluctantly to decide to stay at home.