THE PENALTY OF CRIME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24715, 18 September 1941, Page 5

THE PENALTY OF CRIME

TO THE EDITOR Sir—As the remedy for crime which a woman member offers is education, will she be good enough to explain to us how she means to apply the remedy? Does she expect our people to wait in fear and trembling, daily dreading brutal assaults, not only on men who are doing their duty, but also on women, young girls, and dear little children until she starts educating these cowardly creatures, leaving them free in the meantime to do their worst? I am amazed at any woman taking up this attitude even though she has the backing -of a body of stalwart Labour members. But as some of these strong men were never noted for courage, we need not be surprised, at their horror when any of their followers is threatened with a few stripes I am. etc.. Law-observer.

TO THE EDITOR Sir,—As one who has followed the controversy with interest, I was pleased to see the attitude which a women's organisation in Wellington is taking on the subject of corporal punishment, and it is up to all the other women s organisations from the North Cape to the Bluff to join up with their sisters in Wellington. Little children must be protected from those callous brutes whom Christ referred to when He said. "It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he be cast into the sea, than that np should offend one of these little ones. Those words, coming from such a source, should encourage our womenfolk to carry on despite the fact of so much hypocritical drivelling sentiment that has appeared in the press in support of the abolition of flogging insanity can be the only excuse for not carrying out punishment, and the law as it stands has made provision for this. There is another aspect to this movement, and to my mind a serious one. We have an example of what 1 mean in this morning's Daily Times in what a correspondent who signs himself "A Potential Murderer states what he would do if his little girl had been outraged. Under the new law there will be no redress beyond imprisonment for a year or two. Who could blame any father for dealing outjustice when the State refuses to administer to the criminal his just desserts. Therein lies the danger of the law being flouted. Let us hope that the ladies' organisations will make their voices heard and succeed m infusing some sense into our members of Parliament.-I am. etc, Israel. September 16.

TO THE EDITOR s ; r __Your correspondent "Warning" declares in his letter in Fridays paper that "the Government is not a free aeent It must bow its head . .ip thl decisions of its masters the union secretaries. . . " Who .are these mysterious union secretaries? wheiice came they? What is their , objective and what are they really aiming at? They act as if they were entirely on the side of the criminals! They belittle and ignore the Bible the wonderful Book which God has given The late, good King George V stated that the Bible was the first of our national treasures and in its spirt tual significance the most valuable thing that life affords. We know too that our gracious Kins George VI also honours" the Bible. When £vin« hta message to the peoples of our Empire he said, "I commend, the reading of this Book. For centuries the Bible has been a wholesome and strengthenins influence in our national life, and it behoves us in these momentous davs to turn with renewed faith tcitms Divine source of comfort and insP"?: tion." All who in any wav contradict this noble declaration are dangerous enemies!—l am. etc.. Maran-atna. [We have received a letter on the above subject from "H.T. G. "has, however, been published elsewhere.— Ed.. 0.D.T.)