MAORI YOUTH

Grey River Argus, 12 June 1933, Page 7

MAORI YOUTH

POSING AS GIRL. (P e r Presji Association) AUCKLAND, June 8. I’he amazing case ot a young Maori man, who has posed as a girl for so long that now, even when dressed in masculine attire, he still has a distinctly feminine appearance, was before the Pukekohe Court to-day. His correct name is Te Ahurangi Matene, but he is widely known as Rosie, his female Maori name being Rosanna Laihae. He is nineteen years old. ami on April 28 appeared before the Court for wearing female clothing. He undertook to refrain from doing this in future and was discharged on payment of four shillings costs. The charge against him to-day was that on various dates in February he obtained credit to the extent of £6 14/9 by falsely representing himself to be a woman. Evidence was given by Sybil Robert son that during February accused ‘'all ed at a drapery shop in the main street of Pukekohe conducted by witness and her sister, and selected various articles of female attire, including an evening dress. lie also chose

scents and face powder. Witness served him, but had no idea he was a man. Tin- :.<■ nunt came to £6/14/9. Accused ...id certain rents were duo to him from Native Lands, and on receipt of this money he would pay the account. Witness said that had she known he was not a girl she would not have let him have the goods. To Mr. Foster, who appeared fur accused, witness said she believed rent money was coming to accused and that she would be paid. ‘‘Accused belongs to a good Maori family in Hawke’s Bay,’’ said Mr. Foster. ‘‘At nine years of age he joined a circus and from that, time

until six or eight months ago he up poured us an acrobat and trapeze art ist, but always as a girl. He was thus brought up us a girl. He was encouraged to dress as a girl. He was called by a girl’s name and he mingled freely with girls. All his manners are now feminine.” There was definite evidence, continued counsel, that accused was in receipt of a verv considerable income from rent. At present an amount exceeding £179

was due to him. He had the fullest jintention of paying the Misses Robert son and had purchased the goods in the ordinary course of what was at that time his normal lite. Thomas Bell, who has employed accused and other Maoris on his farm al Pukekohe Hill during the past few months, said accused was an excellent worker. Witness was prepared to continue employing him and would guarantee payment of the account. Mr. Foster submitted that as accused had no intention of not paying the account the charge of obtaining credit by fraud could not stand. Messrs Lawrie and Armstrong. ,T.P., who presided, agreed, and the ease was dismissed.