LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3113, 18 June 1917, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

FLABBINESS AND DUTY TO THE PUBLIC.

Sir,—When hundreds of brave men are ' being killed almost every day, will any person come forward and say why murderers of the Butler type, or any other type, should be spared, and their vile lives prolonged at a. cost of thousands of pounds to the country. It gives people a sickening feeling to think that a "spineless. National Government' could not get enough iron into its flabby constitution to fulfil the Divine command, "A life for a life." I never had a. high opinion politically of Sir James Carroll, but I always admire and respect him for allowing tho law to take its course with the young Maori murderer , , to save wJiom even the Bishop of Auckland put up a hysterical struggle. Another thing, when wo see tho way returned soldier? aro being beaten over their pension?, and the best men in Dunedin do not hesitate to charge i'hc Government with getting men by unfulfilled promises, presumably on account of an over-burdened Treasury, then why load it further by,the keep of Butler, which, let me £ay, is- more than tho pension of any two of our wounded heroes. If this is riot both shameful and Ecandalous, then, sir, I don't know the meaning of tho English language. i In conclusion, a man who knew Butler thoroughly, said ho was, on most points, iis sane as anyone connected with his trial and. ultimate fate, but as .events have shown, that is not saying., very much.—l am, etc., W. B, WEIGHT. ' Eahotu, Taranaki. <