WELLINGTON NORTH

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 306, 21 September 1943, Page 6

WELLINGTON NORTH

Commenting that the Labour Government had tin unenviable record for interfering with the judicial system, Mr. 1. C. A. Hislop (National, Wellington North? speaking at Ghuznce Street last night, said it bad abolished capital punishment and flogging. The latter was imposed only in extreme cases. According to the opinion of the judges and those best able to know, it was a definite deterrent to that bestial type of crime—assaults on women and little children. llus type of offence was one of the most repellent in the criminal calendar, and should be dealt with with the inmost vigour ami strength of the law. The Lord himself had said: “Whosoever oflendetb against one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better a millstone were tied about his neck and he be hurled into the depth of the sea. ' Continuing, Mr. Hislop said a distinction should be made between the genuine conscientious objector, sueh as the Quakers who performed non-combatant service, even on the battlefield, and the military defaulter. Men who had evaded their obligations to the community and whose claims to be conscientious objectors had been rejected were enjoying all the amenities of comfortable' camps while the soldiers were undergoing hardships. Speaking on the subject of social security. Mr. Hislop said that not only those paying into superannuation schemes should be relieved of double taxation by being exempted from social security tax. but also greater consideration should be shown to members of friendly societies.

The Democratic Labour Parly would see that lenders were called for all Public Works, said Mr. D. H. Butcher (Democratic Labour, Hawke's Bay) in an address last week. The Government had accepted £lO for the demolition of the Eketahunu Post Office, and the contractors had realized £lOOO by auction for the bricks and corrugated iron. After deducting the cost of labour the contractors would make at least £5OO profit.