POSING AS A GIRL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21975, 9 June 1933, Page 10

POSING AS A GIRL

AMAZING STORY OF MAORI YOUTH FACE POWDER AND SCENTS (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 8. An amazing case of a young Maori man who has posed as a girl for so long that now, even when dressed in masculine attire, he still has a distinctly feminine appearance, was before the Pukekohe Court to-day. His correct name is Te Ahurangi Matene, but-he is widely known as Rosje, his female Maori name being Rosanna Laihae. He is 19 years old, and on April 28 appeared before the court for wearing female clothing. _ He undertook to refrain from doing this in future, and was discharged on the payment of four shillings costs. The charge against him to-day was that on various dates in February he obtained credit to the extent of iS 14s 9d by falsely 'representing himself to be a woman. Evidence was given by Sybil Robertson that during February the accused called at a drapery shop in the Main street of Pukekohe conducted by the witness and her sister, and selected various articles of female attire, including an evening dress. He also chose scents and face powder. Witness served him, but had no idea he was a man. The account came to £6 14s 9d. The accused said that certain rents were due to him from Native lands and on receipt of this money he would pay the account. Witness said that had she known the accused was not a girl she would not have let him have the goods. To Mr Foster, who appeared for the accused, witness said she believed the rent money was coming to the accused and that she would be paid; “The accused belongs to a good Maori family in Hawke’s Bay,” said Mr Foster. “ At nine years of age he joined a circus and from that time until six or eight months ago he appeared as an acrobat and trapeze artist, but always as a girl. He was thus brought up as a girl. He was encouraged to dress as a girl, he was called by a girl’s name, and ne mingled freely with girls. All his mannerisms are now feminine.” There was definite evidence, continued counsel, that the accused was in receipt of a very considerable income from rent. At present an' amount exceeding £l6O was due to him. He had the fullest intention of paying the Misses Robertson and had purchased the goods in the ordinary course of what was at that time his normal life. Thomas Bell, who has employed the accused with other Maoris on his farm at Pukekohe Hill during the past few months, said the accused was an excellent worker. Witness was prepared to continue employing him and would guarantee payment of the account. • Mr Foster submitted that as the accused had no intention of not paying the account the charge of obtaining credit by fraud could not stand.

Mr Lawrie, J.P., and Mr Armstrong, J.P., who presided, agreed, and the case was dismissed.