SIX MAORI YOUTHS HUNT IN A PACK: SEQUEL IN COURT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22916, 7 April 1949, Page 6

SIX MAORI YOUTHS HUNT IN A PACK: SEQUEL IN COURT

(S.C.) WAIROA, April 7. Described by defending counsel as acts of larrikins and hooligans, the activities of a garw of six Maori youths led to their appearance in the Children’s Court before Mr. G. H. Sinclair. S.M., who took a serious view of their offences and committed the youths to supervision for periods ranging from six months to two years, one being further ordered to accept employment as directed by the child welfare officer.

Charges of common assault and of being found on enclosed premises by night without lawful excuse arose particularly from an incident following a dance. It was stated by Detective G. A- Jesson that the six youths followed a man and a girl from a dance hall, and with handkerchiefs over their faces and coat and shirt collars turned up had rushed them, endeavouring to wrest the girl away from her escort. In the melee that followed the girl was pulled about and indecent language was used by the attackers. The youths had admitted the offence. “Peeping Tom’’ Offences

Detective Jesson stated that the same group of youths was believed to be responsible for a number of “peeping Tom" offences which had occurred in recent months. They had admitted going to houses and looking in windows of bedrooms, eventually disturbing the occupants. These offences savoured of indecency, and the accused had admited other visits to private premises.

On behalf of the defendants, Mr. G. M- O’Malley said that the incident in which a girl and her escort were involved had an element of jealousy, and possibly was inspired by film or “comic" addiction on tiie part of one or more of the youths. One of them had previously taken the girl home from a dance. The girl had not, on the occasion referred to in the charge, been badly injured or otherwise molested. The whole thing was an act of larrikins or hoodlums, added Mr. O’Malley.

Referring to the charges of visiting private premises by night, counsel stated that the defendants had probably got the idea from publicity given to other cases. He felt that the police would agree that these boys were not responsible for all the trouble experienced recently in Wairoa. Lack of supervision probably had something to do with their escapades.

The magistrate commented that it was a bad sign when six youths were found of a mind to gang together for misdemeanours. If they continued the practice they would get themselves into serious trouble. One of them, had he been a few months older, would have been dealt with in open court and would not have been dealt with so kindly.