ILLEGAL BURIAL

Matamata Record, Volume XIX, Issue 1735, 1 June 1936, Page 4

ILLEGAL BURIAL

A PUTARURU PROSECUTION First Case of Kind A prosecution of unusual interest was heard at Putaruru on Friday before Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M. A Maori, H. Paul,. was charged with having buried<■ a deceased native without having a death certificate, a coroner’s order for burial, or a registrar’s certificate of death. The prosecution was brought under the legislation introduced last year compelling natives to register births, deaths and marriages as do. Europeans. It is believed to be the first of its kind in the Dominion., Constable J. Murphy stated that Paul had * buried his deceased brother-in-law at Paparaumu Pa, near Tirau, on January 27 without making any notification of the man’s death. A number of deaths occurred in this way and much trouble was given the police. Accused, who pleaded guilty, stated he was not aware of the necessity for notification. He had asked two young Maoris to tell . the police, but this was not done. The Magistrate pointed out that it was absolutely necessary to make notification of ail deaths and stressed the danger likely to arise if this was not done in cases where death resulted from an infectious disease. No fine was imposed, Paul being ordered to pay costs only.