LIQUOR FOR MAORIS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 10, 12 May 1939, Page 5

LIQUOR FOR MAORIS

PARTY ON A FARM "SQUATTER" CONVICTED Patrick Mayne appeared before Mr E. L. Walton S.M. in the Whakatane Magistrate's Court on Wednes-. day, charged that on January 11 at Onepu he aided and abeJtted Thomas Wilkinson and Patrick Ngamare to supply liquor to natives. Mr Otley appeared for Mayne. The police said that a party was held at Mayneis farm and Maoris brought and drank a quantity of liquor. A complaint was made concerning the theft of homebrew from and when Constable Hedley interviewed Mayne lie learned of the party which had been held. Mayne, said Constable Hedley, did not pay for the beer nor did he distribute it. Mayne said he had "squatted" on native lands at Onepu for 12 years. He had given permission for a lv.rthday party «to be held on the farm. Eight people came from Mat at a and later people came from Te Teko. Jle saw them drinking beer but he drank none himself and took no part in supplying the beer nor did he §oin the party. Mayne said that as he did not own the land he could ndt put the natives off it. It had been a favourite gathering place for natives for years Mr Otley submitted that there must be some active part in aiding and abetting before a charge could be brought. Mr Walton said that the lefini. tion of aiding and abetting had been, extended by a judgment of Mr Jusitice Blair. Defendant apparently only gave consent, however,. He was technically guilty a*id would be convicted and ordered to pay costs.