Corporal Punishment Referendum Sought

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32119, 15 October 1969, Page 1

Corporal Punishment Referendum Sought

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 14. The time is ripe for a referendum on corporal punishment for certain crimes, according to the petition of Cyril Douglas Black and 58 others, of Timaru, presented in Parliament today.

The petition said a large proportion of the population was concerned about the increase in crimes of rape, violence, assault and vandalism, and desired to petition Parliament for a referendum on the question of corporal punishment for these and allied offences. The petitioners said they felt that under the present system, punishment, even with heavy fines, was not an adequate deterrent because most young people were earning such high wages that these fines were causing no hardships, and because among gangs the leader was looked upon as “a hero” and any fine he might receive was shared with his members.

“Such a fine becomes ridiculous, where he would find the ‘birch’ for instance, very difficult to share with others," the petition said. “We feel strongly that when the whipper is whipped, there will seldom be a recurrence of the same offence.” A recent exhibition in Central Otago, where gangs appeared from as far away as Ashburton, Timaru and Oamaru with handles welded to bicycle chains, made it appear that these attacks were premediated on quite a large scale. “We suggest a more effective type of punishment will be required before our roads, streets and resorts are safe places to be enjoyed by all,” the petition said.

“A recent public statement by a female missionary that she would be quite happy to go out at night in Rhodesia but would hesitate to do the same in New Zealand makes it appear that some stronger action by our Justice Department should be instituted.”

The petition was presented by Sir Basil Arthur (Lab., timaru).