TAHI KAKA'S CRIME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14707, 15 June 1911, Page 8

TAHI KAKA'S CRIME.

HON. J. CARROLL'S VIEW.

"NO REDEEMING FEATURE."

EFFECT ON YOUNG MAORIS.

[HY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT] Wellington, Wednesday. The Acting-Prime Minister (tho llrtn. J. Carroll), speaking regarding tho death sentence passed on Talii Kukri, said tho Executive considered the matter very carefully, and after examining tho evidence came to the conclusion that tho murder was premeditated and deliberately carried out. The only ground for the jury 51 recommendation to mercy was the youth of tlio prisoner, but as to the act itself there was no redeeming feature which they could see to in any way lessen its enormity. If, ho added, there was some provocation. some injury which had worked oil the lad's feelings, it. might bo different, but there was an utter absence of any-, thing of the sort. Whether young men should bo let off, and only old men hanged, lie did not pretend to say. He was no jiulgo of such matters. It. might, howover, have a bad effect on. the rising Maori generation if any special leniency was shown in this case. A Maori View. Mr. Wi Fere, M.L.C., who was also present, when asked for his opinion, said that tho murder was evidently the result i of premeditation and deliberately carried out. "If you let this man off, some other voting men may bo committing murdoi, he added. An M.P.'s Appeal. Mr. 1). McLaren, M.P., said 110 thought there was a very good ground for a public appeal in the matter, because he could not. conceive that any good to the State would result from the execution of the lad. Due consideration should bo given to the fact that an untutored Maori lad, such as Tahi Kaka evidently is, would have very loose ideas, both in regard to tho nature of private property and tho sacredncss of human life. Tahi Kaka's crime seemed simply a wild action of an irresponsible character, by a youth to whom society in some measure owed a debt, through having left him in an uneducated state.