Penalties for crime

Press, 14 December 1982, Page 24

Penalties for crime

Sir, — I do not share R. Hyland's conviction December 10, that whipping people “with such severity that even in the early stages the convict loses consciousness and is sent bleeding to hospital” will do anything to help ease “the lawless state in our country.” I suggest that R. Hyland should actually do some thinking before assuming the position of spokesperson for “thinking people.” — Yours, etc., LYN BRIESEMAN. December 10, 1982.

Sir, — R. Hyland’s suggestion that we introduce whipping for criminals (December 10) is brilliant. I reckon if they are going to lose consciousness after the first few blows, as Mr Hyland warns, the whippings could be spaced out over several days really to push the message home. As for the example given of the robber who used his foot to hold a lift door open before robbing a woman passenger, I suggest cutting off both his legs would soon stop that sort of thing. I fear that unless we do things like this we will never achieve the loving, tolerant and caring society that all of us thinking people want. — Yours, etc., GRAHAM PARTON. December 10, 1982.