MAORI FORGERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24251, 17 April 1942, Page 2

MAORI FORGERS

PRACTICE SPREADING FOUR YOUNG MEN APPEAR i 4 Two charges each of forgery and false pretences had been admitted by two Maoris, William Reha and Kruger Matenga, aged 23 and 19 respectively, when they appeared for. sentence b<> fore Mr. Justice Callan yesterday. "It appears to me the knowledge of this convenient but dishonest method of making money is spreading among young Maoris." said EJis Honor, who remarked that there were four young natives appearing on charges of forgery and uttering." "They have apparently discovered that all you have to do is to steal a cheque form, forge the name of some settler and cash the cheque at the nearest township. It is necessary that this knowledge should also spread among Maoris—that this method will take them to gaol." . Probation would be misunderstood in the present case and both would go to gaol, Reha, as the elder and ringleader, for 12 months, with hard labour, on each count, and Matenga for sis months. The sentences were to be concurrent. Paiki Morete, labourer, aged 19 (Mr. Butler), was sentenced to 12 months' hard labour for forging a cheque in his employer's name. The fourth prisoner, Adam Tomuri, appeared in territorial uniform, pleading guilty to charges of forging and uttering. Stating there were special conditions, as the offence was an isolated one and the young man was owed something by his employers, His Honor admitted him to probation for three years A condition was that lie should pay £lO toward the costs.