FREE ROW FOR ALL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 November 1924, Page 6

FREE ROW FOR ALL.

OBSCENE LANGUAGE USED.

SCENE IN HIGH STREET. NATIVE BEFORE,THE COURT. What was described by Constable Lemm as a “free row for all amongst a crowd of natives” took place in High Street yesterday afternoon, and resulted in a native woman named Noti Awa ia.pu being arrested, and this morningr brought before Mr J. G. Osborne, J P on a charge of having used obscene language in a public place. It appears that a heated debate took place in Maori, but unfortunately when it came to giving vent to: certain expressions the combatants found that the Maori vocabulary was not extensive enough,, and their utterances in English consequently led to the downfall of one of their party, who was hustled into a cab and driven round to the lock-up. The police stated this morning -that the native wonian in question had had liquor but she was not drunk enough to lock up. The language used had been hurled at her husband. ■ Mr Osborne pointed out that accused had been before; him on a similar charge about two years ago, and she had then /been sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment. It seemed that’ when she came to town and got drink there was trouble between her and her busband. as it had been an argument with her husband that had resulted in her, last appearance. Mr O’Dea, far accused, pleaded guilty, and stated that it was doubtful whether the native knew the meaning of the words used. In her case it was more a matter of “rough” language. Mr Osborne said that natives would have to learn that they could not use obscene language in the streets of Hawera. He was satisfied in his cwn mind that accused knew the meaning of the words she had used, and as the sentence of seven days had had a good effect he would this time make the term ten days.