ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24738, 15 October 1941, Page 9

ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY

TO THE EDITOR Sir—Allow me to support your correspondents who condemn legislation •‘for the protection of the criminal,” the latest outrage perpetrated by our class Government. I hope the members of that Government like the immediate effects of their “magnificent gesture ” in wiping out . the brutal, savage, out-of-date theory of “a life for a life” The ex-parson members of Parliament are to be specially commended for their frank and open scorn of the Old Testament, but they,.with their leaders, must share the response bility for the increase in criminal offences and their increased intensity. If the Labour Government, which romped into power partly on the votes of the wastrels—a Government which still evidently places special value on these votes as “ certainties ” —had done its duty and hanged a cold-blooded killer, the Auckland gaol revolt would not have occurred and that poor warder would to-day be fit and sound and well. We must not forget that it was one of the women members of this team who stated that these poor, misjudged individuals are not really criminals, and are actually entitled to our sympathy and help! Is the West Coast gunman suffering from a dire complaint, or is it lack of education? I .suggest that Mrs Stewart go and personally condole with and comfort the relatives of the six fine fellows who have lately been “butchered” to celebrate a Labour triumph!—l am. etc., Ivon A. Borton. TO THE EDITOR Sir. —Wishful thinking on the part of Mr A. Caldwell will not remove from the minds of the people the disconcerting thought that the guarantee of protection by legislation to the killer is in no small measure a contributing factor to last week’s tragedy, or to any other killing which may occur in the future. I have no doubt that Mr A. Caldwell will admit that murderers are in the majority of cases cowardly brutes who attack only defenceless and unarmed persons. To remove the fear of death from their hearts is to encourage them in their dastardly crimes, as they know that detection means only a few years to convalesce in an up-to-date prison where the food and comforts supplied are superior to-those which most of our workers can afford. The only redeeming feature seems to be that the killer will have no cause to place much reliance on the word or pledges of the Government. It is possible that another pledge will be broken and that orders will be given to shoot on sight.— I am, etc., Matilda. October 14.