SHOT FOR DESERTION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16114, 1 May 1923, Page 5

SHOT FOR DESERTION.

ARMY DEATH PENALTY.

OPPOSITION BY LABOR

LONDON, April 14.—Pitiful stories of young soldiers driven mad by their war experiences being' shot for cowardice or desertion, were related by Labor members of Parliament during the debate on the Army Annual (Air Force) Bill. The Labor members sought to abolish tho death penalty, which, as admitted by a Government speaker, had been inflicted on 264 deserters during tho war.

The debate lasted all night, but the Bill finally got through, and the Government refused to abolish executions in the army. Ihe Labor members obstructed every stage, and the Government frequently applied the closure. However, tlie discussion generally was good-tempered, and there were few "incidents." MueTi time was occupied by the Labor party attempting to give army recruits the right to contract out of any service in which the military were used in trade disputes.

Mr. 'W. Guincss, Under-Secretary to the War Office, however, held it necessary to have power to make such use of soldiers in emergencies. The debate on the death penalty was vigorous. Officer members emphasised its necessity, and told how situations had been saved by "non-coms" shooting officers who had lost their nerve.

Mr. Rupert Gwynne, K.C., sympathised with the Labor contention, but held that it was necessary to maintain the penalty, and emphasised the point that a careful inquiry was held before the executions were carried out. In the course of the debate it was disclosed that 264 men had been shot for desertion in the war.

The discussion was enlivened by an amusing incident. A member drew attention to the fact that the Communist member, Mr. Walter Newbold, and another M.P., were lying full length and fast asleep on a bench. Ho suggested that it would be more decorous "if the corpses of these two honorablo members were removed."

The remark awakened the sleepers who hastily scrambled to <*i sitting posture, amid much laughter and cheers.