IN FEMALE ATTIRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20710, 7 May 1929, Page 9

IN FEMALE ATTIRE.

A MAORI’S MASQUERADE. • SENT BACK TO HIS PEOPLE. ■ ■ (Special *to • Dairy Times’.) AUCKLAND,' Slay 6. The astonishing request that he should, be allowed to continue wearing female attire was made bq Nikora Hunc Haora, a young Maori, aftdr he had pleaded guilty at the Police Court this morning to having falsely represented himself as a female. The request was made through Sub-inspector McCarthy after a conviction had been entered, hut Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M. f , emphatically refused it, stating tliat the man must wear the clothes common to his sex. ..■ The, accused, aged 26, who was arrested in Harley street, Takapuna, last evening, pleaded guilty to a charge of imposing upon Bernard Kissin, of Clifton road, Takapuna, by falsely representing that he was a female—June O’Hara—and ■ obtaining employment as a housemaid between February .1 and May 4, receiving 2{sa a week.as. wages. -When the accused’s name was ‘called Haora came; Out of the room . usually reserved for female prisoners. He was dressed in a fashionable crepe-de-chine frock, a nigger brown coat, black cloche hat, grey silk stockings, and patent leather high-heeled shoes. With mincing steps and adjusting a brown fox fur as he walked into the dock, Haora looked, even on close scrutiny, like a Maori girl. Ringlets of glossy black hair peeped from under a smart little hat. Haora looked coyly at the magistrate from behind the shelter of his fiir. Only his brown eyes could be seen. After making',, his plea of guilty Haora stood silent, and the magistrate’s first comment was, “If he’s a man he’d better take, his hat off for a start.”— (Loud laughter.) . Haora hesitated, and then removed his hat. Long wavy hair fell about his neck, and the crowd laughed. He looked uncomfortable. . On the one occasion when his voice was heard it was uncommonly feminine in tone, being pitched in a high alto. Sub-inspector McCarthy said the case was one of those where a man had an inclination for woman’s, work. Haora could not .be allowed to continue masquerading as a woman. Nothing serious had occui red, but such a masquerade could not be tolerated under the law. “It must be stopped,” added the subinspector. “Take him away and burn those clothes he’s got on,” said ‘Mr Hunt, “then send him back to his people.” Sub-inspector M'Carthy; People who know Haora speak very well of him. A woman who has had a lot to do, with him still refuses to believe that he is a man.”—(Laughter.) “Well, lie’s convicted and ordered to come.up for sentence when called upon, and tell him he must get into ms „mi clothes immediately,” said Mr Hunt. Sub-inspector M‘ Car thy added that Haora was a well ed ueixted young man.. Mr Hunt remarked tliat there had been many cases in history of a feminine mind and a masculine body. It is stated tliat Haora was driven to the impersonation to'keep himself from starving, and to pay instalments on a hired piano on which £SO is still owing. The household consisted of the employer, his wife, a boy of 17, and a trio of young daughters. Haora states that his mistress was so pleased with his domestic proclivities that the governess was discharged, and (as he termed it) he did everything. His employei declares that there was never the slightest suspicion that June (as Haora called himself) was anything but the girl he was supposed to be. He was an excellent worker and a wonder ful cook. The manageress of the dining rooms where Haora was employed before the impersonation, says she thought, on the other hand, that Haora was a woman dressed as a man.