BRAWL AT TANGI

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20262, 1 June 1940, Page 5

BRAWL AT TANGI

FIGHT AMONG WOMEN CLAIMS FOR £3OO FAIL (Spncial to tho. Herald.) WAIROA, this day. Arising oU.t of a brawl among some WoMen .during .a tangi near the Carroll memorial meeting house,,on February. J.l, two claims for damages for alleged assault..were.heard, in the Wairoa' Magistrate’s Court this week. The plaintiffs were Mihi Newman, a married ■\yoman, who claimed £l5O, ! 'and Rowena Thompson, a married woman:, (Mi., G deV. Robinson) who claimed £ISZ. 75,,6al and .the defendant was Edle Crrnciid, a widow, of Wairoa (Mri,O'. M.,O’Malley). 4ftgh . heading various versions of the. fight from .rndny , witnesses. Mr. J., Miller; S.M..,gave judgment for the defendant in both actions. He said that it was claimed by the plaintiffs that they were assaulted without any provocation, whereas the defendant claimed that she was provoked by the' use of shocking language, going back to where the plaintiffs were standing With a number of other women, and being assaulted. It was his opinion that,, it. was. the plaintiffs who had .assaulted the defendant after, ope of.them, Thompson, had used the-language. T,he magistrate said that it was a pity.the ca?e was, brought into court. It could have been derilt with by the Maori 'Council'., . , ■ Counsel replied that, the trouble was that ..the Maori' Council was not operating; ...... - .....