A NONCHALANT MAORI DEBTOR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3984, 15 August 1929, Page 2

A NONCHALANT MAORI DEBTOR.

It is usually a fairly hopeless business for counsel acting on behalf of a client in a civil claim to find out the financial status of a Native, or even extract any information from him regarding any work he had been engaged in. Generally they appear to regard the proceeding as a form of amusement and with a biroad, grin o’erspread the countenance answer the counsel’s interrogations mainly in monosyllables. The following dialogue, typical of such proceedings took place in the local Courthouse this morning when the “Mayor of Motuiti” was called on to explain why he had not paid for oertain expenses incurred in Palmerston North: — Counsel: You remember owing this money?—Yes.

What have you been doing since Januarv? Not much.

Haven’t you been shearing?’ — Yes. -

And dairying? —A little. How many cows have you got?— Ten.

And you’ve been shearing las well? —'For about a month. How much did you get? £6 cash. And keep? Yes. We were three months getting a month’s work.

Do you pay any rent? —No. Are the cows in milk? No. When will they be? The end of the month. Well, how much can you pay off this account?—Nothing! (with a broad .smile). Can’t you pay £1 a month out of the dairy cheque?—Oh. about ten bob I ’spose. Counsel (hopelessly): It doesn’t really matter much. I don’t suppose he’ll pay anything. He ? s been down twice already! The S.M. (to debtor): Well, you’ll pay £1 a month or get fourteen days! Debtor, (nonchalantly): Well, I suppore that’s all right!