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been promoted by the Welfare Officers. These organizations are performing most useful work in the homes of the Maori people and have accomplished much in the interests of Maori women and children. In some districts great impetus has been given to the revival of the arts of weaving and plaiting and other crafts of the Maori. In addition to the whole-hearted support of the Health Department through the Director of the Nursing Division and the Health Nurses, the League has also received encouragement and support from the Department of Maori Affairs. A guest-house for the Maori people, promoted by the League and assisted by the Department, is now in the course of erection at Rotorua. The guest-house will fulfil a long-felt requirement of those Maori people who go to Rotorua to visit sick relatives in the hospital, or to takea course of treatment in the thermal waters of the district. In the Taranaki district in particular the Health Leagues are closely allied to the Tribal organizations set up under the Maori Social and Economic Advancement Act, thus forming a very important avenue for promoting the purposes and objects of the Act. Hostels With the encouragement and financial support of the Department, various social organizations in Auckland have established a number of hostels for the accommodation of Maori boys and girls who are required to go to that city for education or employment. The buildings in three instances were purchased by the Department from Maori Trust Funds, while two are owned by Christian organizations but assisted in their establishment from departmental funds. At Wellington the Department has purchased and is conducting the Pendennis Maori Girls' Residential Club. A total of 137 girls and 36 boys are boarding in these establishments, and these represent a small percentage of the number who could be employed in the cities if sufficient accommodation of a suitable nature were available. The following table shows how these boarders are employed : Attending schools and colleges .. .. 35 Attending training colleges .. .. .. .. 13 (3) Attending the University .. .. .. .. 2 Employed in restaurants and domestic duties .. .. 47 (8) Employed in factories .. .. .. 54 (8) Employed in shops and offices .. .. .. 22 (20) Total .. .. .. .. .. 173 The Wellington figures are shown in brackets. Conference The conference of Welfare Officers held in Wellington during the month of March this year was important from the point of view of administration. The organization and functions of each division of the Department were fully explained and discussed and gave the Welfare Officers a better appreciation of their own work and its relation to the other activities of the Department. Various State Departments responsible for certain aspects of Maori administration were invited to address the conference to bring about a better understanding of their functions and closer co-operation between the work of those Departments and the activities performed by the Welfare Officers. It was felt that conferences of this nature will tend to better understanding, more efficient administration, and more devoted and enthusiastic promotion of the beneficial principles and objectives of the welfare organization.

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