MAORI FINED
ILL-TREATMENT OF CHILD
OMAR) FARMER CHARGED
An Omaio Maori, Tai Riwai, in tlie Opotiki Court Inst week was 1 charged with ill-treatment to a child under the age. of M years who was in his custody. He entered a plea of guilty. Sergeant Isbi&ter said that defendant was a farmer at Omaio, and the boy in question Avas his nep-. hew. The boy had been living Avith accused for the past four years. On NoA'eniber 2!) the boy arrived at school in a A r cry bad; condition, and the teacher called Constable. Hira of Te Ivalia who inspected the boy's bruises. The District Nurse also suav the boy who Avas sent to the Opotiki Hospital and attended by Dr. James. lie. Avas eovercd Avith bruises on his. body,, arms and face, the injury to the face being iiiiliet— ed by a punch or a slap. Constable Hira interA-icAved accused, avlio admitted that he Avas responsible for the boy's condition, stating that the boy had misbehaved himself and accused had given him hidings. The strap, which, Avas a Aery thick hard one Avas covered, Avith blood stains. £11' the meantime the boy had been taken -charge of by the Child Weifare Department, and had recoA 7cred. Mr Hei, who appeared for defendant,, said that the boy Avas the son of Tai's eldest brother. The boy had seen Tai put some money in his pocket and later the money Avas found to be missing. The boy denied persistently that he had taken the money, and defendant hail to indulge. in extremes. The boy. admitted that lie: had spent Is (3d atf Omaio and had hidden £2 10s. It was some time before the boy Avould disclose Avhere the £2 Avas hidden. Mr Hei submitted that accused AA T as not quite guilty of Avilfully illtreating the boy. Had lie not taken steps the boy Avould, not liaA-e disclosed where the money Avas. Accused Avas just trying to correct the boy avlio had been a source of a lot of trouble to him. Defendant, had seven children and a Avifc, the. latter being very ill. He asked for mercy for accused 011 that account. The Magistrate: He asks for some.-, thing that lm Avas not prepared to extend to the child. The Magistrate said that accused really should be sent, to gaol, but he Avoukl take into account Avliat Mr Hei had said. A fine of £7 10s Avith costs amounting} to £2 5s Gd Avas imposed.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/BPB19440125.2.23
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 43, 25 January 1944, Page 5
Word count
Tapeke kupu
417MAORI FINED Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 43, 25 January 1944, Page 5
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Beacon Printing and Publishing Company is the copyright owner for the Bay of Plenty Beacon. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Beacon Printing and Publishing Company. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.