MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 November 1940, Page 9

MAORI MEMORIES

MAORI LAW COURTS. (Recorded by o£ Palmerston North, for the “Times-Age.”) With the coming of the white man, the power and influence of the Maori Chief, like the restraint of the law of Tapu has faded away to a mere memory. “Wiremu Tamihana and Rewi Manaipoto are still chiefs in name among their own tribes and others; but are subject to the will and the rule of the people,” stated one writer. “They do not guide it, and resistance would depose them. Legislative and judicial power are now in the hands 'of the Runanga (village council) even to private life. They make laws for Sunday behaviour, against lying, harmless or slanderous, laws to fix the price of pigs or the cost of work. The Runanga would be a tyranny if it only had power to enforce its rules. Fortunately this , tribal Runanga is more feeble than considerate. Only by ignoring all these petty laws can the Maori enjoy personal liberty in anything. Pakeha enforcement of our petty laws have already converted the Maori as it also will us, from the pleasure and profit of willing workers to that of leaners and loafers. Maoris help themselves to a Pakeha horse or a cow if they feel they have been wronged. If the Runanga considers the claim to be just, they approve of such acts. In many individual cases the Runanga is guided by the Ten Commandments, English laws, or Maori customs just as it suited the occasion. One Maori Chief studied the laws of the Pentateuch and quoted Levitical law in doubtful or difficult cases. Bishop Selwyn asked if it would be safe to leave his luggage on the track while he made a call. The Maoris replied: ‘Oh yes, you see the Maoris don't steal now, some for the fear of your God. some because of the Maori Whakawa (court's) £5 fine.’”