PROTECTED GAME

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 20, 4 September 1946, Page 5

PROTECTED GAME

NATIVE PIGEON TAKEN YOUNG MAORI FACES COURT Offering the novel excuse that he had been instructed by the elders of his pah to go into the bush and shoot native pigeons in order to make for a variety of food at a complimentary dinner extended to M.P.s, Harry Chase, a young native of Te Teko pleaded not guilty in the Whakatane Magistrate’s Court yesterday when charged with shooting protected game.

Ranger K. Francis said that on June 4, he travelled to the Tarawera country near Fenton’s Mill, where he heard there had been a native shooting party after pigeon. He tracked the party for one and a half miles, when he came upon a pile of freshly plucked pigeon feathers in a clearing. He decided to wait, and at dusk, a young Maori arrived with a shotgun and three pigeons. Shortly after, two other Maoris, of whom defendant was on,e also arrived, and declared they had been pig shooting. On being searched, the defendant was found to have a freshly killed and plucked pigeon in his pocket. Witness had immediately confiscated the firearms and ammunition. Chase later admitted that he had shot the pigeons, and expressed regret. From the box, defendant said that he had gone into the bush under instructions to shoot game for the visitors. He admitted that technically he was guilty. His other two companions had already faced the children’s court for the offence. Sergeant Farrell said that the Conservator of- Game had had considerable difficulty in detecting those who had been guilty of poaching native game. It was felt that the Te Teko natives had made a practice of destroying pigeons in considerable quantities, and a .good deal of trouble had resulted in discovering the culprits. He asked for a heavy penalty to act as a deterrant to others.

The Magistrate, Mr E. L. Walton, S.M., commented that there appeared to be no doubt that defendant was caught red handed. He had been surprised to learn that the object was to provide a feast for an M.P., but that did not protect native pigeons. He could only comment that the elders of the tribe who had sent him into the bush to break the law should help him to pay the fine. He would be fined £lO plus 30/- costs.