PLAY CENTRE TRAINING COURSE ON EAST COAST School was back in session at Camp Williams, Waipiro Bay, on the East Coast. Over 80 mothers and a few fathers too, were attending a residential training school organised by the East Coast-Poverty Bay Play Centres' Sub Association. The weatherman was kind and spared two beautiful sunny days, so everyone gathered on the expansive verandahs of the old mansion to listen to lectures given by Mr Lex Grey, Pre-school Officer of the Maori Education Foundation, and Miss Leonie Shaw, Pre-school Adviser of the Department of Education. Miss Shaw displayed many books suitable for the pre-school age group, and discussed their merits and the important place they hold in the lives of children. Mr Grey stressed the role adults should play during the first five years of a child's life. Parents, especially mothers, should be with their children, do things with them and talk with them, to create greater understanding while at the same time helping vast abilities and language skills to emerge. Mothers listened and talked together about the things dearest to their hearts—their children and their development. Discussion groups and workshops were formed where parents were able to exchange ideas used in their own play centres. One stimulating exercise was to compile booklets, using conversation actually recorded during children's play. All this sharing of ideas and a common interest led naturally to a great deal of good fellowship between Maori and Pakeha members. The local people demonstrated this in the true East Coast manner. Speakers at the official welcome on Saturday evening were Mr A. Reedy, Mr H. Jennings, Principal of Ngata College, and Mr L. Lyons, head teacher of Manutahi Primary School, who all spoke of the value of the Play Centre movement to their area and welcomed visitors to the East Coast. Mr Lex Grey talks to Mrs D. Awarau of Waipiro Bay Mrs D. Awarau presented Miss Shaw and Mr Grey with beautifully woven kits on behalf of the East Coast-Poverty Bay Play Centre's Sub Association, and then the children of Waipiro Bay and Te Puia entertained with action songs and poi dances. This was the first Play Centre residential training school held in the East Coast-Poverty Bay region and the organisers were extremely pleased with the response. The region is served by 15 established Play Centres, most of which were represented at the training school. It is to be hoped that the enthusiasm displayed at Waipiro Bay is carried back to all these play centres, as a benefit to the whole community. Some of the women who attended the course. From left, Mrs M. Harrison. Tokomaru Bay, Mrs K. Stainton and Mrs N. Taitua. Hicks Bay, Miss Leonie Shaw, Christchurch, and Mrs P. Lohite, Hicks Bay