HONI COULD NOT PAY HIS CREDITORS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17862, 2 June 1926, Page 1

HONI COULD NOT PAY HIS CREDITORS.

HE HAD SIXTEEN “ INDEPENDENTS.” (Special to the “ Star.”) WANGANUI, June 1. Moni, a judgment debtor, well-nour-ished and with a beaming smile, entered the box at the Court this after noon. “Can he speak English?” queried the Magistrate. Mr Barton. “ Te little bit,” replied Honi. “ I think you. manage all right,” said the Magistrate. Honi shook his head doubtfully. Counsel proceeded, to cross-examine, but made heavy weather of it. “ You know I like to make te pay, all right,” said Honi, “ but your way not my way.” “ I hope not,” replied counsel. Honi then enlightened the Court that he have “ te sixteen independents.” “ What you mean by independents?” asked counsel:' “ Him all live on me,” said Honi. “ How are these independents made up?" said counsel. “ Oh, te wife and te kids! ” “All your own?” queried counsel. “No, I ’dopt some of him.” “ How many adopted?” Honi commenced to think, and finished 'up with, “Te other man, aged forty-five, his wife, aunt and her husband.” Counsel: The last-named is your uncle! “Don’t know,” said Honi. “Him marry my aunt anyhow.” Honi was very guarded in answering questions regarding his income, but freely admitted that he owed about te £250. They had sixteen cows. “ But te missus him own thirteen; three belong to me,” said Honi, “ but one die.” In answer to the Magistrate, Honi said that the forty-fiye-year-old uncle had lived with him “ since him marry.” “ Get no hoot from him,” he said. “ Maori law say him stay with me. All right, what you think, eh?” he asked. “ Honi, our law say.” said the Magistrate, “ that after you support your own family you must pay your debts.” “ I tell 5-ou that our laws ” said Honi. “ Your law all very well before the pakeha came.” said the Magistrate, “ but while you are keeping your friends, your t»reditors are keeping you and your family.” Honi merely smiled, and when the Magistrate announced that no' order would be made he tripped lightly from the Court, with a setting of wahine following speedily in his rear.