MAORI GAOLED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 28, 26 November 1943, Page 5

MAORI GAOLED

THRASHING TAVO CHILDREN

INCIDENTS AT TE WHAIT.U

That he had thrashed two young children because they had allegedly stolen money and had lied about it, was admitted' by Andrew Kohiti in the Rotorua Magistrate's Court last Wednes-. day, when he was charged before Mr W. H. Freeman,; S.M., with assaulting Verbina Kahika aged eight, and: Albert Kahika, aged l 10 at Te Whaiti on l October 23 last. Sergeant J. H. McLeod explained that accused was acting as guardian for these children, his, cousins. Following examination by a nurse at the school they were attending, it was. found that they Ave re badly bruised about the body; this probably having been caused by a strap. The girl .susequently admitted to Constable L. Bidois that she. had been beaten by the accused, who said that she had taken a shilling from his trouser pockct to buy a Avar bond. Her brother, Albert, avlio Avas more extensively bruised., stated that he too, had been given a hiding by Kohiti. Both children had been sent to the Rotorua Hospital l'or treatment and the Medical Superintendent, Dr. Bridgman,, stated that, after examination it had been found that they were suffering from injuries consistent with being strapped. Accused, when interviewed by Constable Bidois, frankly admitted that he had seA'e.rely thrashed both the kiddies. They A\ r ere Aery hard to control, he had said, and, had stolen fis from him and lied about it Avhen questioned. He had lost his, head and. had thrashed them Avith a strap. "They probably tleserved it . . ." commented the sergeant. The magistrate: You have only his Avord for that. Accused said in a statement that his Avil'e and mother Avere living in the house Avith him and. that thefts of. money had taken place from all of them, said counsel. (Mr J. D. Davys). A letter from a neighbour was then produced in which it Avas claimed that thefts from milk bottles in the area had been noticed by him. . . . "That's not evidence,"' said Mr Freeman. "I refuse to listen to it." Counsel submitted that, accused had had reason to punish the ehildrcn but had admitted, that lie. did not realise how hard he had been hitting them. All possible had been done, to treat them afterwards. The Bench: What really Avants to happen is that someone should take direct action against a chap like this. Belting a helpless youngster,, probably till it. could not stand up, is unpardonable. Accused Avould. be sentenced to three Aveeks' imprisonment on each charge, these to be served concurrently. "Perhaps that avi 11 teach him to keep his temper and it might deter others," added Mr Freeman, avlio said, that there had been other cases of this nature, in the Dominion recently.