MAORIS IN TROUBLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 64, 16 March 1936, Page 9

MAORIS IN TROUBLE.

BURGLARY IIVI NORTH.

OFFENCE AGAINST GIRL.

Two Maoris who had been committed from Wliangaroa for sentence on chargcs of burglary and attempted breaking and entering appeared before Mr. Justice Fair in the Supreme Court this morning for sentence. The prisoners were Paki Haora and Poneki Paki, the latter also admitting a charge of carnal knowledge. Neither of the accused had anything to say at first, but when again asked by his Honor in connection with the carnal knowledge offence Poneki Paki said he had been permitted to marry the girl. His Honor replied that the statement was contrary to the report to the Court. The father of the girl had endeavoured to persuade her to return home. She had been living with the prisoner. At the tiriie of the offence, said his Honor, the girl concerned was 15 years 11 months old' and looked older. Before the offence the prisoner had lived with her as man and wife for twelve months. The particular ofl'ence in the charge might be regarded as not the most serious, but it had to be taken into ascount that the prisoner had lived with the girl for twelve months prior. His Honor added that he could not accept the statement' that the girl's elders had agreed to marriage. The evidence of the girl's father was to the contrary. The accused must know that a Maori as well as a pakelia must observe the law. The police report stated that the prisoner was of loose moral character, addicted to drink and a bad influence among his companions.

A sentence of six months' hard labour was imposed.

Dealing with ■ the other offences his Honor said it appeared that Paki took a secondary part in the,actual theft. He would be sentenced to three months' imprisonment concurrent with the other sentence.

Haora seemed to have planned the breaking and' entering and was the principal party in carrying it out, eaid his Honor in sentencing him. The report showed that the prisoner was addicted to drinking and had been suspected of other thefts. These would not be taken into account, but only prisoner's general character and the particular offence. His Honor said lie had considered imposing a sentence of twelve months, but would give Haora another chance. The sentence on the burglary charge would' be six months. On the other charge the judge imposed three months' imprisonment, the sentences to be concurrent.