“RATANA’S COURT”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 350, 10 May 1928, Page 11

“RATANA’S COURT”

STRANGE NATIVE JUSTICE "JUDGE” GIVES EVIDENCE A new department of justice was discovered during the hearing of a charge against a Maori in the Supreme Court yesterday, when Graham White, a witness, the uncle of the girl against whom the offence was alleged to have been committed, stated that he was the Judge of Ratana’s Court. “George Manukau is the law-giver. He’s the lawyer,” stated witness, “and Tau Makare is the policeman.” Strange methods of dealing out justice by this Maori tribunal were suggested by Mr. Hall Skelton, who crossexamined witness. The latter denied that the Ratana Court inflicted fines, and denied saying to accused, “I have the law in my hands and con impose a flogging.” Counsel said that when accused protested his innocence, witness was alleged to have made the above threat. Witness admitted threatening to give accused a hiding, but denied telling him that the charge would be dropped if he admitted the offence. TAR AND FLOGGINGS “I have the power to put tar on your back and throw feathers at you,” were the words which accused said White used to him. “I get frightened then,” added accused. Mr. Hall Skelton: I should think so. His Honour: Not of the feathers? ’Did you think he could give you a hiding?” asked prosecuting counsel. Accused (emphatically): Yes, I did. He knew it was serious to admit the offence to the native tribunal, said the accused, but when they “came at the flogging stunt,” he admitted it. “I don’t like a hiding,” he added. His Honour: It seems they were going to flog him if he was innocent and let him off if he was guilty. Constable Boag (Maungaturoto) said that he had received complaints from two different districts that fines were being imposed by this unconstitutional court on natives, but on inquiring had met with denials. The “court ” it is understood, is really a committee of the Ratana Church, and the designations given various natives are not official.