CONVERTING CAR TO OWN USE

Northland Age, Volume 6, Issue 29, 9 April 1937, Page 1

CONVERTING CAR TO OWN USE

Native Youth Gets Three Months and Another Seven Days

“The accused, Rameka, is a tough young rascal who a few years ago would have received a birching. His plea of ‘Not Guilty’ is an idle pretense and has put the Court to a lot of bother.” Sergeant Claasen so summed up the position when Tom Rameka, a native living at Pamapuria, appeared at the Kaitaia Court on Monday morning and pleaded not guilty to a charge of converting a car to his own use. Accused, who was not represented by counsel, did not exercise his right to question any of the witnesses called, and when asked by the Bench if he had anything to say, stated that he was not giving away any information. Rameka had three previous convictions for the same offence and was found guilty and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment in the Mt. Eden gaol, with 12 months’ probation to follow. He was also ordered to pay half the cost of repairing the car that had been removed, as this had been found abandoned, in a damaged condition. Sergeant Claasen stated that Rameka had money in his possession when arrested, and Mr. F. B. Rowe, who with Mr. W. Williams, were the presiding Justices, said “We will get down on that for the repairs.”

Henry Dudley, another native, aged 19 years, who was charged with the same offence, but who pleaded guilty, was sentenced to 7 days in the Kaitaia lockup, 12 months probation and ordered to pay half the cost of repairing the car. A condition of the probation was that Dudley was to work on his father’s farm during the period, his father being a highly respected native who could exercise some control over the youth. Dudley also had one previous conviction for the same offence, but his counsel,

Mr. J. B. Reynolds, in a plea for leniency, said that the father was

prepared to look after the youth. The facts of the case, as outlined by the police, were that on the night of Saturday 27th March, a car belonging to Mr. T. Maugham of Pamapuria, was taken from the garage, some distance from his house, and was, on Sunday, found in a damaged condition at Peria. Enquiries led to the arrest of the two accused, who at first pleaded ignorance of the af-

fair, but later Dudley made a statement to the police in which he admitted the offence and incriminated Rameka. The two men had arrived at the home of Mr. W. Shelford early on Sunday morning, and Rameka had told Shelford that they had taken Mr. Maugham’s car and had had an accident. He asked Shelford to tell the police if enquiries were made, that they had been at his, Shelford’s, home all Saturday night. In their first statement to the police, the two accused had said that they were at Shelford’s, but this Shelford had denied in a statement made to the police in front of the accused.

Resignation of Mr. J. Thornton

from Town Board Owing to ill health and his consequent absence from the district for some considerable period, Mr. J. Thornton has resigned from the Kaitaia Town Board and a by-election to fill the vacancy will be held. Finance For Kaitaia’s Water Supply Secured For some months past the Kaitaia Town Board has been endeavouring to raise the money required for the bringing of a water supply to the town, but at the rate of interest fixed by the Loans Board, 3J%, it could not procure the loan required. Authority has now been given the Board, by a Government Order-In-Council, to raise the money through the bank by way of hypothicated debentures. In order to finalise arrangements and to consult with the Board’s engineer, Mr. L. Mandeno, in connection with the acceptance of a tender for the work, the Board’s chairman, Mr. J. T. B. Taaffe, Mr. L. Peace, a member of the Board, and the Clerk, Mr. W. H. Atkins, were in Auckland this week and were successful in arranging all financial details.