NOT TO BE FLOGGED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 179, 1 August 1941, Page 6

NOT TO BE FLOGGED

AUCKLAND ESCAPEES REMISSION OF SENTENCE GOVERNMENT’S ACTION CRITICISED (P.A.) Parliament Bldgs., July 31. The, Government has decided to recommend remission of the flogging ordered by Mr. Justice Blair to be carried out on four prison«.'s as part, of the sentence imposed on them for assaulting warders in their escape from Auckland gaol.

This announcement was containe. in an answer by the Attorney-Genera, the Hon. H. G. R.. Mason, to a ques lion by Mr. W. P. Endean (Opposition, Remuera). Mr. Mason said that the recommeendation was based on oppositio. to flogging as a form of punishment. Debating the answer to the que. tion, Mr. Endean said the attack wa: a cowardly and criminal assault it which one warder almost lost his life, and he contended that the Government answer was far from satisfac tory. The punishment of flogging wa: still on the Statute Book, and if it were in the law then it must be enforced. One of the prisoners was a convicted murderer and was in prison under a particular licence which thr Government seemed to hand out to a! criminals when they committe: offences against people in this country. The crime committed by the Auckland gaol escapees was the mos. heinous, foul crime ever committed i: the history of criminal jurisprudence in New Zealand. Mr. H, E. Combs (Government, Wellington Suburbs) said the punishment ordered by the Court would not prevent a repetition of such crime. What would prevent a repetition would he the alteration in the conditions under which I he men wbre guarded.