ABOLITION OF THE DEATH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24735, 11 October 1941, Page 15

ABOLITION OF THE DEATH

PENALTY XO THE EDITOR , Sir.—Within a lew weeks of the abolition of capital punishment. ?nd the remission of punishment imposed for a brutal attack on prison warders, three policemen are murdered. No doubt this legislation will have gained the Government a few votes from the criminal and weak-minded members of the community. Are these votes of more importance to the Government than the lives of its law-enforcement officers? If Cabinet Ministers had to make contact with criminals, as police officers and warders have and if their own skins were in jeopardy, they would quickly lose their abnormal desire to coddle the brutal criminal. What has a murderer to fear now as a result of the Government’s., rechnt legislation? Only a few years in prison. Within the last year or so a number of murderers have been released after serving comparatively short sentences. However fulsomely Cabinet Ministers may deplore the loss of the murdered police officers, the thought will be present in .many minds. '* By their fruits ye shall know them." —I am, etc., . H. Dunedin, October 10. TO THE EDITOR Sir,—When we read of the vicious tragedy which has occurred on the West Coast, have we given thought to the fact that in not lifting our voices in protest against the abolition of capital punishment, we as citizens have assisted the Government, if not in encouraging this type of crime, at least in giving silent consent to the protection of the killer? It is quite obvious that this man, while dealing out death to brave police officers knew that under the present Government’s legislation the same fate would not be his. and- that, if caught, his only punishment would be imprisonment in a place. which is considered by murderers of recent years to be a ‘'home away from home” or “the killers’ paradise.” Surely “this dastardly crime will force the people to realise their responsibilities and lead them to protest against legislation which gives protection to the killer and none to the citizen.—l am. etc.. Matilda. Mornington, October 10.. TO THE EDITOR Sir,—The reaction to the abolition of the death penalty and corporal punishment was not long delayed. Yesterday we read with horror of the West Coast killings—cool, calculated acts by a man obviously quite. ,sane. We can only hope that the searchers will shoot on sight, and shoot to kill. If this man is taken alive we can be sure that he will be certified as insane, well cared, for, and eventually released after serving a “ life ” sentence. \ I venture to suggest, Sir, that the poor creatures in our midst who advocate abolition of capital punishment must be held partly responsible for these cold-blooded murders and for other acts of violence which will surely follow now that the chief deterrents have been removed. —I am, etc.. Oamaru. October 10. Justice.