PARENTS FINED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 32310, 8 September 1943, Page 4

PARENTS FINED

CHILDREN NOT AT SCHOOL CASES HEARD IN PAEROA ATTENDANCES OF THE MAORIS parents of several Maori children, whose attendance at the Paeroa District High School has been unsatisfactory during recent months, appeared before Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., in the Paeroa Court on Monday, fines being imposed in each case with one exception. William Nicholls was fined £1 14s 0d on a charge that Kerenamau, Oho and Tamua Nicholls enrolled on the register of the Paeroa District High School did not attend regularly.

The Attendance Officer, Mr Stephens George White, said this case was a particularly bad one and one child had made no appearance up till the present period. The other two had made spasmodic appearances only. He urged that a severe lesson be given in this case as the parents had taken no notice of warnings and were just too lax to be bothered.

Mr A. T. Jones who appeared for defendant stated that Nicholls was not opposed to schooling and in fact had recently given the school house to the Koputauaki School. Mr Nicholls and his family were now residing- at Koputauaki and the children would be attending school there in the future. Mrs Nicholls had been ill and this was a reason why the children had been absent from school, having to assist in the house and look after their mother.

Fines of 6s, 14s and 14s were imposed for the respective children with expenses Ss in each case and translation fee 5s in each case.

Lou 'Gage was fined £1 12s for not sending his three children Nahi, Molly and Arthur Gage to school. The Truant Officer said that defendant had been warned on many occasions but with no results. There had 'been no alternative 'but to prosecute. Gage said that the reason why the children had been away from school was because they had been ill. Fines of 10s, 14s and l 14s were imposed for the respective children with costs 10s, witness’ expenses 5s and translation fee 5s in each case. John Hapu was fined 12s for not Sending his daughter Joyce Hapu t» school.

The Truant Officer said that the child had been absent some six months. A fine of 12s was imposed with costs 12s, witness’ expenses 5s and- translation fee ss. Decision was reserved in the case where Harry Peke was charged with not sending his son Harry Peke to •school. The Truant Officer said in this case the child attended school some days and then would stay away for a few days. Peke stated that the boy had a mass of sores all over his body and he had kept the boy home in an endeavour to cure him., Mr R. 8. Carden said that while he had been a member of the Paeroa District High School the question of “scabies” among Maori children had given the committee a lot f of worry as the complaint had been very bad. He spoke in support of Peke, adding that the question needed sympathetic treatment to correct ‘ the position. The Maoris needed to be taught to help themselves more. The Magistrate reserved his decision.