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Greymouth Evening Star, 7 November 1944, Page 7

An amendment to the law to provide for the reinstatement of capital and corporal punishment, for those crimes where such punishments were previously imposed, was urged by the grand jury in Napier yesterday. The Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) said he would send the resolution to the Minister of Justice. He comment- . ed that the opinion was the more valuable because of its absolute spontaneity. ‘-‘There was no reference whatever to the matter from the Bench. There can be no suggestion that the grand jury was influenced in its nresentment by any observation,” said his Honor, “and it is all the more valuable on that account.”—P.A.

There was a division of opinion on the question of the admission of women as elders at the New Zealand Presbyterian Assembly in Hastings. Although the matter has already once been considered during the last year by presbyteries, the assembly eventually agreed that it be referred back to them. The assembly clerk reported that the replies received from presbyteries were not decisive. Five had not decided, but asked that the matter be deferred for consideration after the war. Of the remaining 16 presbyteries eight expressed and eight

disapproval. The key to the situation , was in the five which had not decidP ed he said.—P.A. ■ / I ' -