MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 March 1939, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

LAWS WITHOUT END. (Recorded by J.H.S. tor “Times-Age.”) On Sir George Grey's second arrival he decided not to fight the Waikato Maoris, who stood apart and ignored the Pakeha rule. So he propounded a new policy involving an annual payment -.of £2.000 as salaries to Maoris who act as Magistrates at £3O per annum, Wardens £3O, and Constables £lO with uniforms. The Governor having power to make or approve bylaws for their guidance. One of the first experiences was that of a Maori lady who defied the new Court's order against being tattoed on the chin. She refused to pay and coolly derided the law, for which there was no remedy.

A great British statesman of that day. speaking of New Zealand said:, “Lawlessness is their great evil. Their remedy was the farce of making many laws with no power or intention to enforce them. Laws are their staple industry.” By our condemning their restraining law of Tapu, and their effective death penalty for infidelity (puremu) by man or woman we have' produced a state of loose immorality hitherto unknown among them. In those early days a French dealer placed kegs of rum on board the river boat for sale to the inland Maoris. On two occasions the Maoris emptied them into the stream, and threw the kegs overboard. Several men were charged with stealing the liquor; but the astute newly appointed Maori Magistrate acquitted them by legal argument based upon a British Statute borrowed from the Court Library.