aged 6 got into difficulties while playing in a canal. His sister, two years older, went to his aid. Not only were her attempts to save the boy unsuccessful, but she herself was not seen again.

Children Should be Taught to Swim Cases such as these show the need for parents to carefully watch children playing in or near water. Children should be taught to swim as soon as they are old enough to learn and, as an additional measure that may save someone else's life, they should be taught rescue breathing. Even more important, every parent should learn rescue breathing, for it could mean the difference between life and death for his child. It is the duty of every parent to: ? Watch children of all ages when they bathe or play near water, and keep them away from ponds, creeks, canals, sheep dips, and all other water hazards near their homes; ? See that children learn swimming and water safety; ? Take the trouble to learn water safety and rescue breathing themselves. Children can learn swimming, rescue breathing, and water safety at school and at learn-to-swim classes conducted by swimming clubs. Those who belong to St. John Ambulance, Junior Red Cross, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides will be taught rescue breathing.

Free Booklet on Rescue Breathing Parents can learn about water safety and rescue breathing in several ways. There are demonstrations at shows and at other places; clubs or associations can borrow films from the National Water Safety Committee, Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington; and by writing to this same address, anyone can obtain a free booklet telling how to practise water safety and do rescue breathing. A free booklet is also available on safety in small boats.

Here are reports sent in by the committees of two more successful play centres. PLAY CENTRE AT RUKUMOANA in december 1963, some thirty Maori people at Morrinsville attended a meeting at which Mr A. Grey, the pre-school officer of the Maori Education Foundation, described the aims and organisation of play centres. The enthusiasm of his hearers led to the formation of a play centre committee of interested parents who thereafter met monthly to discuss the setting up of the Centre, how to obtain preliminary equipment, how to raise funds, and how to create greater interest amongst the community generally. As well as this, several mothers visited neighbouring pre-schools at Morrinsville, Walton and Gordon to gain first-hand knowledge of how these groups managed and what equipment was in use. The Committee decided to have the opening session on the 6 May 1964. This was a very successful day at which 18 pre-school children, 11 mothers and three fathers were present. Later in the afternoon, two Morrinsville Kindergarten teachers visited the Centre, and expressed their surprise at the numbers present and the array of equipment in use. Equipment at this stage consisted entirely of play things brought in by the parents. Three tables and several chairs for the children's use were donated locally.

Fathers Also Work on Committee The Committee consists of two sections: The management committee, composed of fathers, whose function is to raise funds, provide equipment etc., and the sub-committee, composed of mothers who supervise at the centre sessions. The presiding officers are: president, Mr J. Pene; secretary, Mr E. Walker; treasurer, Mr Tuhakaraina; roster mother, Mrs Z. Walker. To date, the committee has raised approximately £23, largely from subscriptions from parents, and this money will probably be spent on the purchase of equipment.

Weekly Sessions Held in Meeting-house Play Centre operates weekly and is held on Wednesday afternoons from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. at the Paki-O-Matariki Meeting House, Rukumoana. At present there is no trained supervisor, but each session is organised by the roster mother, lady welfare officer and two mother helpers, the latter of whom work to