THE DEATH PENALTY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17227, 5 April 1930, Page 5

THE DEATH PENALTY

MODIFICATIONS IN ARMY WAEM DEBATE IN COMMONS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Received April 5, 10 a.nl.) LONDON, April 4. In the House of Commons, strong passions were aroused in committee on the Army (Annual) Bill arising from the Government's decision to drop the death penalty for cowardice, and inducing others to participate in acts of cow aid ice, but retaining it for mutiny and sedition.

Mr. Tom Shaw admitted that, in thus further limiting the death penalty, he was acting against the advice of members of the Army Council. A Conservative amendment seeking to re-introduce the capital penalty Cor inducing cowardice "was rejected by 288 votes to 165 after an acrimonious discussion, in which the Opposition demanded that the AttorneyGeneral give a legal opinion as to whether inducing cowardice amounted to mutiny and is therefore punishable by death. «.

The Attorney-General refused, but Mr. Shaw expressed the opinion that n man who deliberately incited others to cowardice was guilty of a crime equivalent to mutiny. Sir George Courthope's amendment, retaining the death penalty for a man leaving his post or attempting to create a false alarm, was declared carried amidst Ministerial protests that the question was not clearly understood. Mr. E. Thurtle's amendment to abolish death for desertion and substitute penal servitude was carried by 210 votes to 135, on a free vote, amid Labor cheers.