DEATH PENALTY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26113, 28 March 1946, Page 6

DEATH PENALTY

REINSTATEMENT URGED DISCUSSION BY JUSTICES (P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Mar. 27. Remits asking for the reinstatement of the death penalty for murder were carried to-day at the annual conference of the Federation of the New Zealand Justices’ Association. Opposition to the remits was voiced by Mr B. C. Robins, M.L.C., the delegate from Tauranga.

“We do not create life and therefore we have no right to take life,” Mr Robins declared. “A man should be punished for his crime, but should not forfeit his life.” He added that he considered that a life sentence was enough, There had been people sentenced to death who had been innocent of any crime. It was his opinion that very few people who committed murder considered the consequences. Murders Not Increasing

It had been said that murders were increasing in New Zealand, Mr Robins continued. He had doubted that and had obtained the official figures for the five years before the Act doing away with capital punishment was passed and for the five years it had been in operation. These figures had had shown that during the first period 32 people had been charged with murder, 12 had been found guilty and 8 had been found to be insane. During the five years that the Act had been in operation 23 people had been charged with murder,. 11 being found guilty and 4 insane. Supporting Mr Robins, Mr A. W. Jones (Invercargil) asked how many of the delegates would be prepared to act as a hangman. He thought that murderers should be made to serve longer terms of imprisonment. Mr G. Stratton (Dunedin) expressed the opinion that the death penalty for murder would be a deterrent. If a man were sentenced to imprisonment for life, then that sentence should be for the terms of his natural life. Mr H. W. Short (Wellington) said the Wellington Association took a serious view of the matter. If a man. .took life, then he should forfeit his own life. Mr Robins had not referred to premeditated murders. Deterrent Aspect

Mr Short quoted such cases, and said that these murderers had been ■ sentenced to imprisonment for the term of their natural lives. That meant 21 years. Some had come out in 15 years and were enjoying the fruits of the world. He felt that the reinstatement of capital punishment would act as a great deterrent. ' The remits from Auckland, and Wellington respectively, Which' were carried on the voices, were as follows: "This conference views with alarm the number of murders being committed in the country, and requests that favourable consideration be given to the reinstatement of the death penalty for murder.”

“ This conference recommends to the Government that capital punishment for murder be reinstated on the Statute Book, and also that birching be administered when ordered by a judge of the Supreme Court.”