SWINDLING A BANK.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12464, 25 May 1911, Page 6

SWINDLING A BANK.

MAORIS AND TOWN LIFE,

(Special to Herald.) AUCKLAND, this day

An interesting feature of Maori characteristics was discussed at the Auckland Supreme Court m connection with the sentencing of two young prisoners, Chas. Kiwi Wilkinson, a half-caste Maori, and Wm. Boyd, on charges of forging and uttering, and conspiring to obtain money by fraud, the forgeries being upon accounts of the Bank of New Zealand, m which Wilkinson was employed. Mr Earl appeared for Wilkinson, and Mr Lundon for Boyd. Mr Earl submitted as a mitigating circumstance that Wilkinson, who was only 18 years of age, was 'a half-caste by birth, but wholly a Maori m upbringing and education, having been living as a European for some two years past. He was the son of a gentleman w^ho held an honorable position m the Civil Service, and who up to the time of his death a few years ago Mas one of the oldest members of the Government service. This gentleman formed an alliance with a Maori woman of rank, and did his best to give the prisoner a good education, so that ultimately he would be translated into a European. At school the boy showed promise, and on the death of the father the two guardians appointed decided to; proceed with his education for two years. He received tuition m a commercial college at Auckland, and then secured a position with the Bank of New Zealand. Mr Earl drew attention to • the , great disadvantages under which the boy labored m being translated to a for which the traditions of his race unfitted him. It was a lamentable thing that the boy committed the offence within a few months of his employment, but it showed that when a Maori was suddenly taken away from Maoridom he was under disadvantages m withstanding the stress and temptations of city life. As a rule the Maori was given to "show," and to personal conceit, and vanity, and that was the prisoner's weakness. He was not addicted to gambling,', drinking, or evil living, and the . hereditary weakness of the race had led the boy into his present' trouble. Counsel stated that Wilkinson had made a full confession, and had it not been for that it was probable a conviction would never have been recorded, and m addition he suggested that the boy had been handled by some one older than himself. "In this case," proceeded Mr Earl, "an experiment was made by the father to make this boy a pakeha, and it was carried on by two of the father's best friends, but it had lamentably failed, and it was a matter for consideration whether it was a proper thing to transplant from Maori customs a -Youth of this class to a position m a bank among associates who were from rich families, with good clothes, all going to amusements and recreations." Counsel mentioned that the mother had been I greatly distressed at the crime, and had' gone back to her people m the King Country, and she wanted to take her son back. to Maori life M*ith her. . In replying to Mr Earl's statement relative to the native race, Mr Tol^ pointed out that millions of pounds had been and Was being spent on the Maoris, who were being uplifted. j His Honor : I agree with Mr Earl that Maoris are rarely fitted for town life. | Mr Tole mentioned that Maoris and half-castes were employed m various, branches of the public service, and were' working admirably and honestly/ .The 1 condition of the race was being improved. His Honor : Still, for the present generation they are better fitted for farming ': or country life than for town life. j Mr Earl pointed out that he had no t intention of reflecting on the race generally. His remarks applied more to the special features of a case like this before the Court, m which a youth was : suddenly transplanted from .Maoridom to a position amongst tho stress and temp- i tations of city life. His Honor intimated that ho could not grant probation. Prisoner had commit- i ted two offences, and had shown consid- s erable ability m cunningly plotting and '« cunningly carrying out on ono occasion < two swindles on his employer to gain I money for himself and his friends. On < the first count prisoner was ordered to « be detained for 18 months for reforma- I tive treatment, and on the second count < ordered to come up for sentence when < called upon. I His Honor said there was not very J much difference between the two pri- ' soners, as Boyd had willingly joined m < tho plot to rob the Bank of New Zealand. He also was sentenced to 18 months detention, and His Honor added " that he would communicate the special i circumstances of both cases to the preside"t of the Prisoners' Board.