MAORI OFFENDERS AND COUNSEL

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 426, 7 August 1928, Page 8

MAORI OFFENDERS AND COUNSEL

Sir,— In glancing through a recent issue of your journal, I noticed a reference to the sentence passed upon a young Maori for a serious offence committed by him. lam not acquainted with the details of the case, but am more concerned at the reported words: “He was not represented by counsel and had nothing to say.” Some such words were written under different circumstances in another place but, of course, with more justification. About IS months ago a Maori welfare movement was launched at Wanganui, following upon the Easter tennis tournament held there. At the time an extensive scan was taken of Maori needs, and a full programme of activities drawn up for attention on the part of the new association. Special provision was made that the association should see to it that any Maori prisoner charged with any offence against the law of the land should be provided with the assistance of counsel, and so far as could be prevented, no Maori prisoner would go forward without such assistance being forthcoming. The Maori has been such an apt pupil that we scarcely realise he is a very child in his movements along the road of progress—probably the most remarkable child of civilisation in history and sometimes he stumbles, but so occasionally that the offence seems a terrible thing when it is actually committed. Any who are prepared to invest*Continued in Next Column)

gate for themselves, and there is no need at this time to go into detaiLthe original viewpoint of the Mator. people as to the relations between tL sexes and as to what, or what would not. be considered as impropriety would be convinced that the viewpoint was rather different from the accepted ideas of pakehas. Indiscretions occurred, of course, but there was prevision in the pa-government to dea with such matters. Impropriety now of course, must be dealt with in *< - cordance with the law of the land, for the same law is for the Maori as for the pakeha. But in its interpret* t'and operation regard can reasonabi be taken of the circumstances, particularly if there are any circumstances which could be ! ward in explanation on behalf of J prisoner. Half the original troub:: in this land came upon us because Wt failed to take the Maori point into consideration, and we forced < viewpoint upon them in past days •- most remorselessly. So it happens tra Maori prisoner without counsestands at a severe disadvantageSome of us who stand for * deal for our Maori brethren at times claim that no Maori should appear before the bar of any Court without the assistance of cour sel, no matter what his offence or n serious. It is a matter Te AkannAssociation might take up at t end. htTL