CRIME AND ITS PUNISHMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 293, 8 December 1923, Page 14

CRIME AND ITS PUNISHMENT.

(To the Edltor.l Sir.—Does your correspondent 'Socrademos" seriously think we are ready to ' abolish capital punishment? Punishment should fit the criminal, not the crime; and for some criminals there is nothing for them but capital punishment. But there are many who are arrested for the iir_ time who could be saved if tlie reason why t'ciey fell was dug up and the I proper punishment and corrective treat ment applied accordingly. With our pre- | sent methods, no one cares and no one has the time. Both the coddlers or I sentimentalists, and Mr. Poynton and his confreres are beating tlie air and getting nowhere. What is wanted is a i humanitarian board of men and women to probe into the past of citizens break- : ing the laws of our country in order to set them firmh' on their feet again as respectable, responsible citizens.—-I ; am, etc., FRIEND OF MEN. AUCKLAND-WELLINGTON ROAD (To the Editor.l I Sir,— No reflective mind can understand why the main road from Auck- | land to Wellington is allowed to remain I in such a deplorable condition. Loud \ and long have been the complaints, and it is high time for this most urgent matter to be taken in hand. This is an age for large undertakings, and the country is not deficient, either in men or money, to lay down a road equal to any highway the Romans ever built. | Before long the railway between these j two cities will have to be duplicated; but instead of heading for this, can we ! not to better advantage construct a first-class vehicular road? On this thee splendid army of motor cars and lorries I already here and to arrive would easily handle the increased traffic. It is im- j possible to conceive of any other material improvement which would give a greater impulse and uplift to the conditions of life in our beautiful New Zealand than this splendid Auckland to i Ellerslie concrete road stretching out and running through to Wellington.— I am. etc., LABOR OMNIA VINCIT. j FIRE FIGHTING.

iTr> the Kelltor.l | Sir, —In a letter which appeared in Sat- ; urday's issue of this paper, and signed "Spcro Meliona," the writer commented strongly on tlie action of the Taniaki Road Hoard for refusing to comply with the wishes of Kohimarama as to having an effective tire-lighting plant installed without delay. A further offer by the residents to place themselves under Captain Scott for drill in fire appliances and manoeuvres was promptly guillotined. Apparently the tirehell, from its present position, is too far away from the station, and hence useless to warn the firemen in the event of tire. From this it. would appear that tlie motor reel so generously subscribed for by the residents is, if not useless, of no avail. In the interests of lives and property | urgent, measures should he taken by the | |K>ople so that these existing evils be j remedied by the controlling body, and failing in this direction strong recommendation made to have the district | brought under the control of the Fire I Board.—l am, etc.. EFFICIENCY.