UNUSUAL CASE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 61, 2 April 1943, Page 5

UNUSUAL CASE

MAORI FACES SERIOUS CHARGE PARENTS' SURPRISING ATTITUDE Before Messrs G. Brabant and J. King, J.P.'s, a young Maori of Waiohau, Tat.i Ripiki, pleaded guilty yesrtcrday to a charge of unlawful carnal knowledge. The girl concerned was a fourteen year old Maori girl who in evidence admitted being the main party to the offences and desired to marry accused. Mr 15. S. Barry who- defended, pointed out that with the consent of the. parents: of both parties the couple concerned had been permit'' ted to live together as man and wife at the home of the girl's parents until such time as the girl liecame. of age to marry. This state of affairs ruled for four months, the whole district, more or less accepting the arrangement. Recently owing to a dispute with the parents of the regarding the milking of the family herd, the. young man was formally reported to the police for an act three months old at which the parents were actually the conviving parties. Mr Barry appealed strongly for a dismissal of the evidence.. The justices while agreeing that the circumstan'ccs were most un-? usual said that they had. no option but to commit the accused to sentence at the next sitting of the Supreme Court, Auckland.