CRIME BY MAORIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24536, 19 March 1943, Page 5

CRIME BY MAORIS

PROPORTION TOO HIGH JUDGE EXPRESSES CONCERN "I have noticed for some little time that the proportion of the criminal business in this district provided by members of the native race is much too large in proportion to their numbers in the community," said Mr. Justice Callan in the Supremo Court yesterday. His Honor had just passed sentence on three Maoris for crimes of burglary and of robbery with violence. Struck by the nature of the work 1 had to do this morning," continued His Honor, "I asked the registrar to look into the figures, and lie tells me that of the 24 prisoners who have pleaded guilty and conio hero for sentence this year ten have been members oi the native race. Two of those who nave been here this morning were in unitorm, and so have several others with whom the Court has had to deal earlier. Their brothers overseas have earned a very glorious name, and it seems to me a matter for profound regret that some of those in New Zealand are besmirching that name. Possible Causes "What the explanation of it is and what can be done about it is hardly a matter upon which the Court can olfer a useful opinion. It may be that the removal from their village life brings out numbers of them either directly into cities to work there or into military camps, where they get leave to go into towns and cities, exposing them to temptations against which they are not proof. "Whether the natural leaders of the Maori people can do anything to improve the situation is not a matter upon which 1 have any opinion, but I have some hopes," concluded His Honor. Xone of the men who came before the Court was represented by counsel. Mr. Cleal appeared for the Crown. Against Simon Keepa, aged iU, there were two charges of burglary and two of theft. His Honor saiti prisoner had a number of previous convictions for breaking and entering and theft, some of them in his teens. He was released from prison on October 2 of last year, and lapsed into crime about three weeks later. It became a question whether the timo had not come to declare him an habitual criminal. He would be warned that lie had qualified to be declared an habitual criminal, and might be SO declared if he came before the Court again. Ho would be sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labour. "Brutal Lawlessness" A half-caste Maori soldier, Wiri Molii, aged 19, who had admitted robbery with violence, asked for another chance, and said he would not do it again. His Honor said prisoner had three previous convictions, and the thing lie had done was very serious indeed. He was a well-set-up man, and he had followed a very small man into a building, taken him by the throat and by force robbed him of 7s 6d. Such brutal lawlessness no community could tolerate. He would be imprisoned with hard labour for 12 months. Concerning Herbert Simon, another Maori soldier, charged with burglary, His Honor said that what he had done could not be regarded as other than serious. At a quarter to four in the morning he disturbed a girl who was sleeping in her bedroom. It was a most terrifying experience. The prisoner would bp sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour. IDLE AND DISORDERLY SIX MORE GIRLS CHARGED Six girls, whose ages ranged from 17 to 20 vears, pleaded guilty to charges of being idle and disorderly when they appeared before Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., yesterday. The girls, who all lived in an apartment house, were arrested on Wednesday. Sub-Inspector Maenamara said there was no suggestion that the apartment house was a house of illfame. ' In remanding the girls for medical examination, the magistrate said that, it might depend on their conduct at the hospital what penalty would be imposed when they appeared for sentence. In the meantime, their names would he suppressed. Edith Kaio, a three-quarter caste Maori, aged 19, appeared for sentence after having been medically examined. Mr. Maenamara said accused, who had pleaded guilty to a charge of being idle and disorderly, now had a clean bill of health. Accused was placed on probation for 18 months. LIVESTOCK MARKETS CONDITIONS IN WAIKATO (0.C.) - HAMILTON, Thursday Dry weather still prevails and a few light frosts have been recorded in some districts. Rain is urgently required to stimulate a good autumn growth before the cold weather sets in. The selling season for store sheep is now drawing to a close and only rimall yardings are coming forward at most centres. Thero are still a few buyers for small lines of ewes, but they arc not prepared to pay high prices. Similar conditions apply in tho store lamb market, while values for rams also show an easing tendency. In spite of the dry weather the market for store cattle has shown a firming during the past two weeks, but this has been caused by buyers operating from outside districts where feed is plentiful. At the Te Anga autumn fair on Monday a largo yarding, comprising mostly well-bred. 18months cattle met a keen demand, and prices were in advance of those obtained at most of the recent country fairs, firown bullocks sold from £0 17s to £lO 10s: 2!/i-year Polled Angus and Hereford steers, £8 8s to £8 10s; forward-condition 20-months steers, to £8 'is; 18-months Polled Angus and Hereford steers. £7 to £7 10s; well-grown 18-months heifers, to £5 His, A few lines of in-ralf Jersey heifers have recently been offered, hut competition for Ihese is not keen and bidding usually stops round about £7. The demand for Jersey heifer calves is quite good and up lo €3 15s was paid for a good pen at one sale this week. Boner cows and potter bulls continue to sell readily at recent firm rates. Bcel.—Values for fat cattle remain firm. Entries comprise mostly light to medium weights suitable for the local trade and these are readily absorbed by butchers at firm rates, while many graziers are forwarding their heavier cattle to the works. Yardings at country sales are usually sufficient for local requirements. A medium entry of ox beef at the Central yards on Tuesday met a keen demand at advanced prices, while values for prime cows and heifers also showed a slight improvements. Heavy prime steers made £l3 to £l.l 15s; medium weights. £l2 to £l2 15s. light, £lO 15s to £ll 15s; heavy prime young cows and heifers, £fl 10s to £lO 10s. prime, C 8 to CO; lighter prime, £7 to £7 15s. Mutton.—The market for fat sheep remains very firm. It was anticipated when prices firmed a few weeks ago that large entries would come forward, but this has not occurred so far, and generally supplies are usually only sufficient for requirements. At the Central yards on Tuesday prime wethers were keenly sought and prices rose. Exporters compete freely for fat lambs and values for these remain very firm. One pen of ex/ra prime wethers realised 33s 3d. Heavy prime wethers, 30s to 31s fid; prime. '27s Od lo 20s; prime Southdown-cross two-toolhs, 24s to 2fis fid; light ditto, 22s to 23s fid; heavy fat lambs, 21 Is to 27s fid; prime, 24s to 255; medium, 22s to 23s fid; light, 20s to 21s fid. Pigs.—Large yardings of fat pigs continue to rome forward at all the main centres. Competition for baconers and porkers is keen. With the supply of skim-milk going down stores and weaners are easier. Top-weight baconers sell from £4 8s to £4 11s; medium. £4 2s to £1 fis; light, £3 15s to £4; heavy porkers and butter-milk pigs, £2 18s to £3 8s; jnedium porkers, £2 10s to £2 15s: light. £2 to £2 8s; unfinished, 32s to 38s. LABOUR PARTY BRANCH At the annual meeting of tho Remucrn branch of the New Zealand Labour Party the following officers were elected;— President Mr. E. H. Hunter; vice-president, Mr. A. E Brownhill; secretary, Mr. J. Freeman; execu tive members. Mcsdames E. Hunter and J Freeman. Messrs. J. B. Dunn, T. E. Biggs and W. G. Dennis: trustees, Messrs. C. Dumo and W Ci. Dennis; auditor, Mr. A. Berry: Labour representation committee delegates. Messrs .T. Carter and E. H. Hunter. FAILED TO ENROL A charge of failing to enrol for military service in September, 1940, was admitted by Jack Archibald Parker, aged 21, before Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M.. yesterday. A sentence of two months' imprisonment was imposed.