COURTROOM "KORERO."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18277, 19 December 1922, Page 10

COURTROOM "KORERO."

MAORI DISPUTE SETTLED.

SOME LIVELY MOMENTS.

JUDGE AS MEDIATOR.

The novel spectacle of a dozen Maoris holding a " korero " in the Courtroom, at tho suggestion of the Judge, to settle their differences was witnessed in the Auckland Supreme Court yesterday. Tatooed native women played a prominent part in lively argument, and a staid old chief, pacing deliberately up and down the floor, delivered a quiet harangue. At one time, when the lawyers were momentarily absent from tho Court, some of the Maoris shook their fists at the others and a free fight seemed imy miiient. However, Mr. Justice Reed resumed his seat on the Bench, and eventually bis clover tact and persuasiveness won tho day.

All the morning and for a good portion of tho afternoon His Honor had been engaged hearing evidence by natives from Matata concerning a dispute over a proposed war memorial. The position was that a Maori woman who owned a store in tho district and acted as treasurer of tho fund for some time, refused to hand over the money, £208, because she contended the memorial should be solely to fallen- soldiers. She objected to the names of returned men being inscribed on it, on the ground that they were not worthy of the honour, asserting they were " drunkards and thieves," and had stolen her fowls. Tho opposing faction, who wanted the names of all Maori soldiers from tho district placed on the memorial, sought an order compelling her to disgorge the funds. Judge Appeals for Oommoneense. When tho defendant was in tho witness box, His Honor said it seemed a great pity there should be a fight over the matter. He mentioned that 20 or 30 years ago he had experience of Maoris who would go into Court and spend £30 or £40 on each side over a calf that was worth 10s. If tho parties would exercise a little commonsense they .could quite easily arrango that the memorial should bo' to fallen soldiers, but that the namss of tho living soldiers should be inscribed somewhere on it. Mr. Han\pson, of Rotorua, who appeared for tho plaintiffs, said both he and Mr. Leary, solicitor for the defendant, much 'preferred that the parties themselves, rather than counsel, should settle the dispute. He and his friend had already expended their best endeavours. The Judge then called all the before hinTand delivered a little homily to them. They all lived in the same district, the same pa, he said, and it was & great pity they should quarrel about the memorial. If ho gave a decision one way or the other, for plaintiff or for defendant, tho result was going to be the samo, namely, that there would be bad feeling in the district over tho memorial, which should really be a cause of pleasure and satisfaction rather than a cause of trouble. What ho wanted was that tho leaders of each side should come together and try to evolve some method by which they could make the memorial one to fallen soldiers, but would have some record of the living on it. They would then have a memorial they could always bo proud of and there would bo no ill-feeling among them. Parties' Strenuous Debase. Tho Court was then adjourned for half an hour, but as tho strenuous debate between tho parties showed no signs of ending, tho time was extended to over an hour. An interpreter was kept busy, and eventually some sort of an agreement appeared to be arrived at. When His Honor re-entered tho Court Mr. Hampson said it had been proposed that tho whole of tho front of tho memorial should be devoted to deceased soldiers, and on the inside, in small lettering, the names of tho living soldiers should be placed. The Judge said that seemed a reasonable proposition. Mr. Hampson yaid tho trouble "was that there was now a dispute as to ("the site. The plaintiffs wanted the memorial to be erected at tho entrance to the Matata Domain, and the defendant wished it to bo placed an a site given by her, at the junction of three roads. It was mentioned that the latter site was near the defendant's store, and His Honor said he hoped it was not personal vanity that made her want the memorial there, for it did not seem right she should have it in her backyard. He asked if there was any prominent man whose opinion could be obtained on the question of the most suitable site, but then remarkod he supposed the settlers would not like to become embroiled in the dispute. How would it be, he suggested, to get the member for the district, Sir William Hemes, to go along ? " An excellent idea," said Mr. Hampson, but he then remembered that Matata was now in Mr. Hockly's district. Judge Provides Solution. After further discussion Mr. Leary said it was suggested there should be a memorial on each site. His Honor: Of course that is absolute nonsense, isn't it ? It would simply spoil the whole thing. Mr. Leary wearily replied that ho had told his client that.

The Judge then made the happy suggestion that the defendant, Miss Savage, should have the honour of opening the memorial if she agreed to it being erected at the entrance to the Matata Domain. This proposal met with the favour of both parties, and it was agreed that one marble pillar of the entrance gates should have the names of the dead soldiers inscribed on it, and the other tho names of tho living, and that the defendant should perform the opening. It had originally been intended to have an archway, but the defendant objectod to this as she did not want the pillar representing the dead to bo connected with the other for the living. Advised to " Shake Hands." His Honor, speaking through an interpreter, congratulated tho parties on being sensible people, and not continuing the foolish fight. It was well that the matter should be brought before the Court and finally decided. He wanted them to understand that no ono had won in the fight, and that it was simply a mutual, pleasant arrangement. Ho hoped that when they went back to Matata they would all shake hands and help in raising the balance of tho money needed to mako the memorial gates a credit to the district.

There was some applause at this stage and a number of the natives started to leave the Court, apparently quita contented.

Mr. Hampson thanked the Judge for the trouble he had gone to, and His Honor, in reply, said he did not often take a hand in a case like this, but he did not like to see the Maoris fighting over the memorial.

No judgment was entered and it was agreed that the costs should bo "pooled," if possible.