"FROM THE NORTH"

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 84, 10 April 1933, Page 3

"FROM THE NORTH"

MAORI OFFENDERS.

FOUR SENTENCED TO GAOL WARNING BY JUDGE. When four young Maoris appeared for sentence on a variety of offences before Mr. Justice Herdman in the Supreme Court this morning, His Honor said he hoped the sentences he was imposing would be a warning to other young Maoris. "The Maoris of the North must understand that these offences cann6t be committed with impunity," said His Honor. All had pleaded guilty in the lower court. Rangi Hinga appeared on a charge of forging a cheque. "You were convicted in 1931 when you were quite young," said His Honor to prisoner. "Last year you were sentenced to six months' hard labour for theft, and now you have committed forgery. You will be sentenced to twelve months' hard labour to be concurrent with the term you are at present serving." "Sneak Thief." Breaking, entering and theft near Kaikohe were the offences admitted by Hori Titori. He told an interpreter he had nothing to say. "You are young, and you have not been convicted before, but the police say you are a sneak thief," His Honor told Titori. "You are another from the North. I hope that the sentences I am imposing will be a warning to your companions, the other young Horis up there." Titori was sent to a Borstal Institute for two years. Bad Young Maori. Described by His Honor as "a thoroughly bad young Maori," Tei Henare was sentenced to two years' reformative detention at Waikeria for uttering a forged cheque.

"You are another from the North," said His Honor. "Hokianga is sending quite a number down to this court for sentence. You were convicted at Rawene in 1927 for theft, at Kaikohe in 1929 for theft, and your record also shows that you presented a firearm. You have also been convicted of wilfully damaging property." Pleaded Through Interpreter. With the aid of an interpreter, William Poa, who had admitted two charges of indecent assault on a female, made a plea for leniency. "As I stand here, I feel sorry for what I have done—sorry indeed," he said. "I wish; to state that I will never do anything like this again. I plead for Your Honor to treat my case as leniently as possible." Mr. V. R. Meredith, the Crown Prosecutor, mentioned that a fingerprint expert had traced previous convictions to accused under another name. The prisoner was asked about the offences and admitted them, explaining that he had been charged in the name of his father. He had been convicted in 1923 and 1925 of theft and breaking and entering. His last sentence had been one -year's reformative detention.

"You have added to the list of Maori criminals coming from the North," said His Honor. "You have pleaded guilty to two offences against your stepdaughter, aged 17. You have been" preaching the Gospel to the Maoris, and it seenis awful that you have committed these offences."

Poa was sentenced to three years' reformative detention.