DEATH BY HANGING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27523, 18 October 1950, Page 9

DEATH BY HANGING

Humane Form Of Capital Punishment FORMER OFFICIAL'S VIEW PA WELLINGTON, Oct. 17. Hanging was the most humane form of capital punishment, said the former Under-secretary of Justice, Mr B. L. Dallard, today, continuing his evidence before the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Capital Punishment. Death by hanging was instantaneous, said Mr Dallard. Referring to some other methods of execution, Mr Dallard said the gas chamber was not always instantaneous. There were also many instances of the electric chair not causing instantaneous death. The chair sometimes resulted in a horrible searing or burning of the person concerned. Asked by Mr T. Bloodworth, M.L.C., how the deterrent effect of capital punishment was assessed when statistics were unreliable, Mr Dallard quoted the case of a man who committed a multiple murder and who had said before committing his crime that he could not hang for it. It was as clear as day, said Mr Dallard, that this man, id toying with the idea of murder, weighed up the penalty, particularly the fact that he could not be hanged. Society Not Always To Blame Society was not to blame for the acts of all murderers, said Mr Dallard, answering a question by the Minister in Charge of State Advances. Mr Marshall. Mr Dallard said too much credence was given to the theory that society was to blame. Many murderers had a good upbringing and a good family life. To Mr G. H. Mackley, M.L.C., Mr Dallard said his opinions were not sought by the previous Government when it abolished capital punishment. “ I take full responsibility for that fact,”, interjected Mr H. G. R. Mason, the former Attorney-general. Mr Dallard said repeal was a policy matter with the previous Government. To Mr Mackley. Mr Dallard said that, desnite his reading of arguments for abolition, his own view in favour of capital punishment had not changed because of his practical experience. The view that juries would very seldom convict a woman of infanticide, as provided for in the Capital Punishment Bill, was expressed by Dr O. C. Mazengarb. M.L.C., during further cross-examination of Mr Dallard by the committee. “ Infanticide should be a much lesser offence than manslaughter,” said Dr Mazengarb. “You will never get juries to convict a woman who is liable to imprisonment for 21 years while the man concerned goes free.” Replying to the chairman of the committee, Mr C. G. E. Harker, M.P., Mr Dallard said the Prisons Board as at present constituted comprised members who were not only humanitarian in their outlook, but also had a sense of duty, and did not let their humanitarian theories run away with them. Mr Dallard said a board appointed on lines suggested by the Howard League would be weaker, not stronger. It was better to have practical men than theorists and doctrinaires.

JURY’S RECOMMENDATION

AUCKLAND, Oct. 17.

A unanimous resolution that the present penalty for murder was not a sufficient deterrent, and that capital punishment for murder should be reinstated, was presented to Mr Justice Callan today by the grand jury at the opening of the Supreme Court criminal session. ,

His Honor said that the matter was a subject of discussion at the moment, but he would see that the resolution reached the quarter for which it was •intended.

WARNING BY JUDGE

AUCKLAND, Oct. 17.

“The hand of the slayer must be stayed,” Mr Justice Finlay said, addressing the grand jury when it was empanelled at the opening of the Supreme Court criminal sessions today. He warned that an indifference to the sanctity of human life was developing in New Zealand. The calendar, though abnormally small, “ unfortunately exhibits characteristics symptomatic of our times." In a list of 17 cases, no fewer than two cases involved charges of murder. Anxious minds were pondering the problem of finding an effective solution.

“The history of the last few years in this court,” his Honor proceeded, “ has shown that the housewife is not safe in her kitchen or the citizen in his home. So I say again, the hand of the slayer must be stayed.” Referring to the murder charges before the court, his Honor concluded: “ They are extremely disturbing.”