.jpg)
The Laws of England, Compiled and translated into the Māori language.
§ 9
§ 9.
A man who lives under the Law has an obligation to the Law, and the Law has one in return to him. His obligation to the Law is Obedience; that of the Law to him is Protection from injury by any other; for the Law prevents his being molested in person or in property. If there were no Law, the weak would be oppressed by the strong and there would be much confusion. But the Law enables men to live securely; a covenant of combination is entered into by all the people, to bring into unison the thoughts of all, and to collect together the power and might of all, as a protection to each individual from oppression or injury.
Now there are three principal things which the Law is intended to protect.
| 1. | A man's life, health and good name. |
| 2. | A man's liberty, which must not he restrained without authority. The only man authorized to restrict the liberty of another is the Magistrate, and that upon just cause, as the commission of some wrong. If a man be imprisoned by the Magistrate without cause, from malice or abuse of his power, the Magistrate will himself be punished by the Law. |
| 3. | A man's land, property, possessions, and all things whatsoever belonging to him are protected by the Law, for him to hold, to use, or to dispose of them, without interference by any other, except by the authority of the Law. |