COURT MARTIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1915, Page 2

COURT MARTIAL.

-MAORI DESERTERS. ACCUSED FOUND GUILTY. By Telegraph.—<Presß Association. Auckland, Last Night. A trial by court-martial of two members of the Second Maori Reinforcements, on i-hargcs of desertion, was held at Narrow Neck camp this morning. The proceedings were carried out according to the rather peculiar formalities attending trials under military law. The Court consisted of Lieut.-Colonel Harcourt Turner (president), and Captains Kewish and Tichener. Captain Pullen appeared as prosecutor, and Mr. Biernacki for one of the acx-uscd (Corporal J. M. Hopaj. The first accused, No. 13/075 (Corporal Jury Martin Hopa), was charged that lie, at Xarrow Neck, when under orders for embarkation for active service, absented himscif without leave from the I'ieeond Maori Reinforcements from September 14, until apprehended by civil police at Taupiri on September 24, and that he was then in plain clothes, Accused pleaded guilty. The prosecutor, in his preliminary address, said it was not in dispute that accused was subject to military law. He was charged with desertion, and it was a fact that this offence had been very rife amongst members of the Maori force. It was specially desired to bring home to the Maoris generally that desertion .was a serious matter. Accused left Narrow Neck camp on September 14 to attend a concert at Dcvonport, and came ba*k at ft p.m. He had some conversation with the guard, and went away again, crossing to Auckland, and going to tlie house of a friend named Silva. There ho changed into mufti, and caught the late train to Huntly, afterwards going to the Maori King at Huntly. Ten days after his desertion he was arrested at Taupiri. In a mat*ment subsequently, he said he saw King Rata Mahuta, and the latter told him that if he signed a book he would be free. The prosecutor added that he had subpoenaed the King for accused's benefit, but the King's statement to him had not corroborated accused's statement in any respect. It was generally believed by the authorities that Maori deserters were being helped by some of their own race, and it was desired to detect persons tarrying on this practice. Captain Alexander, Main Camp Adjutant at Narrow Neck, stated in crossexamination that accused's parents were very keen on buying him out, and declared they were old and 100 poor to support themselves. They were told to make a statement of their finances, but it did not then appear that they were in very straitened circumstances. They we're not told the cost of discharge, which was £2G or £2B. They might have gone away with the impression that the matter had been definitely fixed, whereas it had not. Other men had been discharged under the same eircumsanices. King Te Rata Mahuta, who was the next witness, entered the court room with a retinue of some half-dozen Natives of various ages. He wa= examined through an interpreter. He stated that accused came to him one. morning (not early) last month. He had known accused a long time, as ho had lived close to YVaalii. Captain Pullen: Have you a hook at your pah? Witness: That is in the possession of my people. What is its purpose?—To put on record our desires to be sent to Dr. Pomare. Has this book anything to do with military matters?— There u reference to military matters in it. What is that?— The reference i( that those who wish to join the forces may do so, and that those who object may be permitted to remain. By whose authority is the book placed in your pah?—By authority of the people generally. Is it a Government book?— No. Is it printed?—No; there is writing inside it. Do you ever look at this book?—Oh! It is placed before me on occasions that I may see it. Is there any entry by Hopa in it?— No. Did you tell Hopa that if the police came it Would be all right, because he had signed your book ?—No. ' Mr. Biernacki said his defence was 'that accused was under 20 years of age. He understood the Defence' Department had invariably refused to allow men under twenty to go away without their parents' consent, and that this applied to Maoris, as well as to white troops. It was not possible to produce accused's birth certificate, but evidence would be called to prove that he was under 2(1 years old. Waireareta Hopa. accused's mother, stated that her son had enlisted without the knowledge of his parents, and they did not hear of it until some weeks later. .She immediately wrote to Dr. Pomare to return him "to them. She waited u long time for an answer, and then came to Auckland to see what could be done for her son's release. A letter then reached her, and in it Dr. -Pomare said he had referred the matter to the Defence Minister. Witness detailed conversations with Captain Peacock, camp commandant at Narrow Neck, and Captain Mair, who told her that if she paid expenses she could expect her boy to be released. She then went away to Waikato to get the money ( .e2S),'but when she returned with it she was not admitted to camp, and was not allowed to see Captain Mair. She. accordingly handed the money to her son, who afterwards told her Captain Mair refused to take it, and had said, 'T. wouldn't let you go if your mother offered me £100."' To Captain Pullen: Accused was horn on July 13, 1896. and if he had stated to the authorities that he was twenty-three, lie was telling an untruth. Accused's father gave corroborative evidence. Addressing the Court, Mr. Biernacki pointed out that accused did not himself wish to leave the force, but deserted in response to the appeals of his mother. Captain Peacock, called by the president, stated -that some of the Maoris under his charge at Narrow Neck had been "bought nut'' by their relations. This was allowed only in exceptional circumstances. A recommendation was generally obtained from the recruiting committee-In the applicants' district, and each case was vlosely investigated. Probably not more than twenty discharges had been granted in this way out of 1000 men trained under him at Narrow Neck and Avondalc. Accused's mother had spoken to liini, but had said nothing about her son's age. He referred her to the Adjutant (Captain Mair), as he was then off duty, l/ater ho heard thai she had offered part of the necessary money. The Court found accused guilty of desertion, and retired to consider the sentence. The latter will be communicated to the Judge Advocate-General, and must be confirmed by bim before being made Dublla.