KIWI FEATHERS FOR SALE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20302, 9 July 1929, Page 14

KIWI FEATHERS FOR SALE.

SEWN ON MAORI KITS. PROSECUTION AT ROTORUA. [by TKLEOI;ArIr. —OWN correspondent.] UOTORUA. Monday. A charge of offering kiwi feathers for sr.'.o without lawful authority was preferred against A. C. Dannefaerd (Mr. M. Ilampson), in the Rotorua Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr. S. L. Paterson, S.M. Mr. W. Cobeldick, chief ranger, stated that in company of an assistant ranger on May 1 he saw in a shop in Arawa Street several Maori bags made up with kiwi feathers sewn on, with the prices marked. His assistant went into tho shop and asked defendant the price. Defendant said the smaller ones were 16s and the larger one £4. Mr. Cobeldick followed the assistant and heard the prices asked for tho kits. He then asked Dannefaerd where he got tho feathers and kits. Defendant said they were boucht from tho Maoris.

Tho ranger said ho was acting undor instructions from his department, who wished to put a stop to tho alleged traffic in protected birds and feathers of birds which were protected. H. Frame, assistant ranger, corroborated the evidence of the chief ranger. Defendant said he could not say how old tho mat was. Ho was only temporarily in charge of the shop in his mother's absence and did not know when tho mat was purchased.

Dannefaerd, giving evidenco, said the mats and bags were purchased by hi" father some years before he died. Ho had examined tho shop books, and tliev did not show that any purchases had been made

11. Hamilton, director of Maori art and crafts, gave evidence that tho mat (cloak) was at least ten years old, and tho method of construction was an ancient one. Tho kits were more modern

Tho magistrate said the 6alo was quite clear. Defendant was convicted without penalty, with costs, £2.

A charge of being in unlawful possession of kiwi feathers.was dismissed.