Maori Father Guilty Of Child Neglect

Chronicle (Levin), 23 July 1948, Page 2

Maori Father Guilty Of Child Neglect

AUCKLAND, July 22. The deut]i of a inale eliild aged eight years at Tahere, uear KuikoJie^ iu January, ied to the father, a fullblooded Maori named. Pou Kahi Wiparata, aged 38, drivcr, of Itaweue, being cliarged before Mr. Justice Greeson and jury with unlawfulJy faiiing to providc Llie neeeasaries of life to the child whereby ita life was cndangered. Aceused deaied the offence whicli was alleged to have oceurred betwecn December IS, 1947 and January 1, 1948. "This is not a verv cominon ofI'encc," said Mr. Cleal, opening for thc Crown. "Although commitled by a Maori, it is not the type of treatment to whieh the native race would subscribe if the Crown cvidenee is accepted. It appears incredible that a father would treat liis siek child in sucli a wuy that it subsequently died. " .Outlining the evidence .Mr. Cleal said the District Xurse would deseribe lier vlsits to the Wiparata family whicli, in Xovomber, comprised aocused, liis Maori wife and live children. The tddest, Iloki, who died on January 1, was the child concerned in the cliarge. Mr. Cleal said the nurse saw Iloki who was ill jost before Cbristmas. She left some pills and iustructions for thc niother to inform her if the child did not improve. When she did not hcar ffom the parents slve sent a massage for ficeused to nieet her. lle did not come and the nurse lieard of the child 's death 15 hours after it occurre'd. ]>r. G. Komble-Welcli, of Ilawene. «aid he conducted a post; mortcm ou ITolti. He had not seen anybody so grossly einaciated. There was practicully no food in his intestines and only a sinai I amount of Hui d in the stomach. He was sure the child had not had a meal for 24 hours or a decent raeal for a week. He would not have recovered without food but might have with medical atlention. After a short retirenient tlie jury retnrned with a verdict of guilty. Accused was remanded for sentence.