MAORI FINED FOR STRIKING WIFE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 156, 28 March 1939, Page 13

MAORI FINED FOR STRIKING WIFE

Charge Questioned By Magistrate Dominion Speciai Sf.iwkt NAPIER, March 27. When he appeared in the Magistrates’ Court, Napier, today, charged witli striking a woman in a public place. Mason Timcha. a Maori, was lined £5, in default one month’s imprisonment, and on a charge of a breach of a prohibition order he was lined £2, in default fourteen days jail. Senior-Sergeant: W. Pender said that Timcha was under the influence of liquor when he met his wife. She .‘said she was going to the pictures. There was a scuffle with another Maori and licensed struck his wifi 1 , curling her lip. Timelia asked for a chance, but (lie magistrate said lie could not overlook the incident. The charge preferred against accused was questioned by the magistrate, who said that for a man with the list accused had the charge was not appropriate; it should be amended to one of assault.

Senior-Sergeant Pender said a minor charge had been laid as the wile was involved. and as they were newly-married she might have been reluctant to give evidence against her husband. The magistrate pointed out that under an amendment to the law she could be compelled to give evidence. "Tlie police have preferred a minor charge against you, so you are fortunate.” the magistrate fold accused when altering his previous decision of one month’s jail to a tine of £5. in default one month's imprisonment.