LIQUOR FOR NATIVES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 36, 4 June 1947, Page 5

LIQUOR FOR NATIVES

FIVE MEN FINED WHAKATANE PROSECUTIONS Several natives were prosecuted in the Whakatane Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr E. L. Walton, S.M., on charges of assisting some person unknown to supply liquor to natives for consumption off licensed premises.

Broke Bottle in Street

Mutu Moeke was fined £2 on this charge and also £1 for throwing glass in George Street on April 26. It was stated by Sergeant Farrell that when Moeke had been approached by the police he had smashed a bottle of beer with the object of preventing the police from taking it from him.

Three men, Taunu Taepa, Hauaruru Vercoe and Rupe Rikihana, were charged with assisting in the supply of liquor at Te Teko on March 1.

Taepa and Rikihana were each convicted and fined £2. One Information Dismissed

Vercoe, for whom Mr Otley appeared, pleaded not guilty, and the information against him was dismissed.

Richard Park, who said that he had been selected as a Maori Warden at Te Teko, gave evidence that on March 1 he spoke to Taepa, who had seven bottles of beer. Taepa ran away. Witness also spoke to Vercoe, who threatened to hit witness with a bottle. He had known Vercoe for ten years and had always regarded him as a Maori. Taepa was a fullblooded Maori.

Under cross-examination, witness said Vercoe had come from outside the district. Witness had never been told that Vercoe was not a native. Defendant gave evidence that his mother was a quarter-caste and his father was a pakeha. They had resided at Te Aroha. He had been brought up by Maoris. To Sergeant Farrell, Vercoe said he had always regarded himself as a European. He would not comment on the sergeant’s statement that when interviewed at Matahina he had not contended that he was not a native.

Martin Tahua, of Rotorua, said he was a half-brother of Vercoe’s. He confirmed Vercoe’s statement that Vercoe’s father was a full pakeha.

In dismissing the information against Vercoe the magistrate said that two people had made sworn statements that Vercoe was not a native. If the police wished to disprove these statements they could do so.

Case From Waimana

Patrick Apanui and Lew Apanui Brown were each fined £2 for assisting to supply liquor at Opotiki on April 12.

Constable Thomassen, of Taneatua, stated that when he intercepted these men at Waimana they had a case which contained bottles of beer, they said they had obtained the beer at Opotiki. Both men were full natives.