SCENE IN CHURCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21480, 2 May 1933, Page 11

SCENE IN CHURCH

PAPER PELLETS THROWN REBUKE FROM THE PULPIT WARNING BY MAGISTRATE [by TELEGRAPH —OWN COnnESPOXDEXT] ROTORUA, Monday A "charge of disturbing a religious meeting at Te Whaiti on March 26 was made against Akutina Waitohi in the Magistrate's Court at Rotorua to-day. The defendant pleaded not guilty. The police evidence was to the effect that a church service, held in the mission house at Te Whaiti, was disturbed owing to defendant shuffling his feet, calling out, and making wads from pages torn out of hymn books and flicking them about. Mr. J. A. L. Carter, Presbyterian Maori missioner, in evidence, said that owing to the behaviour of the defendant he had to make a complaint from the pulpit, although he had not mentioned defendant's name. While witness was praying a lady worshipper had been hit with two wads of paper. Owing to disturbances of this kind, which had occurred on several occasions, some members of the congregation said they would not attend services held there, and several had withdrawn their attendance. Since ho had issued a warning that he would take proceedings his congregation had doubled itself.

After the service on March 26-cigar-ette butts and matches, two torn hymn books and paper rolled into wads had been found on the floor where the defendant had been sitting.

The defendant said that he was in company with three companions at the mission house at the time of the occurrence. He had a companion standing alongside him who had thrown the wads of paper. He did not know anything about the shuffling of feet or the cigarette butts. It must have been someone else who had caused the trouble.

The magistrate, Mr. S. L. Paterson, said the defendant must understand that if he wished to go to church he must behave himself. He imposed a fine of £3 and £2 5s costs, and gave the defendant a warning that if he came before the Court again on a similar charge be would be dealt with much more severely.