HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 6 December 1928, Page 9

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY

A BILL INTRODUCED.

(Australian Press Association —United Service.) Received 12.53 p.m. to-day. LONDON, Dec. 5.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Sir Austen Chamberlain, in answer to a question, said .that the Government at present dlid not intend to adopt the general act for the pacific settlement of disputes received from the League of Nations. Commander Ivenworthy, introducing a Bill substituting life imprisonment for the death penalty, said that i|fc was supported by members of all parties. There was always a chance of a; mistake being made in a murder triall, andl he |inistanoed thie Oscjar Slater case. It was better that 100 guilty persons tshou.ld escape the gallows than one innocent person should be judicially murdered. The Bill was read a first time by 119 to 8. A crop of seven Labourite questions were dixected at the Postm.arterGemerail concerning the terms of leasing cables, and. beam stations, and whether safeguards were taken to prevent the beam being subordinated to cabe interests. The Poietmaster-Generatl indicated at present that he was unable to state the provisions of the contract. He i-eiterated his promise to lay them on the table. If the terms were' disapproved they could take the ordinary course of a vote of censure. Mr Wedgwood Benn: “Inasmuch as the contracts provide for the payment of grants for Imperial beam telephony, will you not lay papers on the table in accordance with standing orders?” The Postmaster-General]: “The fact ie that grants will be paid.”