PRISON TERMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 103, 2 May 1940, Page 8

PRISON TERMS.

MAORI OFFENDERS. OFFENCES AGAINST GIRLS. i .—, ——. COMMENT BY JUDGE. Six prisoners, including four from North Auckland, came before Mr. Justice Fair in the Supreme Court today for sentence. "These offences are much too common, especially in the North Auckland district, and even young men should know that the law is made to protect young girls," said his Honor when four men from the North came up on four separate charges of unlawful carnal knowledge of girls under the age of sixteen years. Richard Pivac (21), a half-caste Maori from near Kaitaia, for whom Mr. Holinden made a plea on the ground that the girl-herself invited the offence of unlawful carnal knowledge, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. Whakaaropai Rihari, only 18 years old but married, pleaded for mercy for the sake of his wife and family in contritely admitting a like offence, and was sentenced to two months' imprisonment. PLEA FOR FAMILY. "Grey-headed and 48 years of age, Peri Cassidy, who also had been guilty of this sexual offence, fluently stressed the hardship which would befall his wife and young family in a lean-to home in the winter with no one to tend their kuniera patch if he was sent to gaol. He was informed by the judge that his wife and family would no doubt be looked after in his absence, which would be for a period of three months* imprisonment. "He was smashed up in the last war, being crippled in the legs, and this 'was the only woman who showed him" sympathy, with the inevitable result," said Mr. Bramwell on behalf of Wate Kene Tohu, aged 39 years, who had admitted unlawful carnal intercourse with a Maori girl of 15 years. Counsel said that the prisoner had lived with the girl's parents, who were aware that she and Tohu had fallen in love and proposed to be married when the girl was 16 years of age in September. His Honor remarked that while there were certain mitigating features, the Maori people had to understand that the law protecting young girls could not be disregarded. Prisoner would be sentenced to four months' imprisonment. He also requested Mr. N. I. Smith, who appeared for the Crown, to ask the police to see that the prisoner did not associate with the girl until she was over 16 years of age. YOUTH'S LAPSES. Admission that -he . had forged and cashed a cheque at Thames, and later had broken and entered a shop at Auckland was made by Maurice Boys Sveistrup, aged 17 years, for whom Mr. K. C. Aekins made a plea. Counsel said ?the lad was at, steady worker, but.thringh going to Billiards-saloons had -got into debt, which caused him to commit the offences. His Honor said there was really no excuse for accused, but the probation officers here and at Thames had recommended probation, and the prisoner would be admitted to probation for a period of three years, with conditions that he should repay £lo obtained by his offence, also pay £10 costs by instalments, and, further, should not be permitted to frequent billiard saloons. AFTER FOUR YEARS. Thefts from baches on islands in the Hauraki Gulf, and breaking into and theft from a business place on the waterfront were admitted by Alfred Skirfcoii, 54 years of age. A plea that the thefts were for the purpose of getting food for his wife and four children,- who were on an island near Kawau. was made on prisoner's behalf by 3ttr. Robinson. The man, said counsel, had a list, but for the past four years had gene straight, working ■as a seaman, and had accumulated £140 with which he started a fisherman's business, living with his wife and children on the island mentioned. Their food ran short, and this moved Skilton to commit the thefts. His Honor remarked that the thefts included a considerable amount of tobacco and much more food than would be, required to relieve the distress of the moment. Skilton might hare known that the Charitable Aid Board would have given him the assistance required for food. It seemed more likely that the prisoner, an habitual criminal, had slipped into his old ways. He would be sentenced to twelve months' hard labour.