REVIEW OF SENTENCES ON MURDERERS

Wanganui Chronicle, 28 October 1948, Page 6

REVIEW OF SENTENCES ON MURDERERS

MINISTER’S REPLY TO AN OPPOSITION QUESTION PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Last Night (PA).—ln the House of Reps, today, the Minister of Justice, in a written reply to Mr. W. A. Sheat (Opp.. Fatea), said that in practically every civilised country where capital punishment had been abolished, or where sentences of death were commuted to imprisonment for life, the practice was to review such sentences after a lapse of time to determine whether, having regard to the interests of the community and of the offender, conditional or absolute release might be granted. In England, between 1920 and 1948, 119 persons out of 194 sentenced to death who had their sentences commuted to imprisonment for life were released after detention for 12 years, or less. The average term of imprisonment served by the whole 194 released prisoners was just over 14 years. In Scotland, during the same period, the average term served was just over 13 years. The average term served by life-sentence prisoners released; in New Zealand on the recommendation of the Prisons Board, in the past 15 years, was 12£ years. Under the system of review in New Zealand each case was carefully considered, according to the public interest and the likelihood of the prisoner again offending. "Decisions are left to the judgment of the members of the Prisons Board, in whom I have complete confidence,” said Mr. Mason. Mr. Sutherland said he was not a bit satisfied with the Minister’s response. He was in favour of the restoration of capital punishment, and even since he had asked the question two murders had been committed,

”an<l a mart was running round the country armed with a gun.” The sooner the Government restored capital punishment the better for the peonle of the country.

Mr. G. H. Mackley (Opp.. Waikato* said it was evident the Government was incapable of dealing with the situation and was quite out of sten with public opinion, and was reverting to its earlier “namby-pamby” attitude. The position was due entirely to the Government's lack of practical knowledge as to how to instil discipline in the community.

A Government member: You had better hrng them all!

Mr. Mackley said the Opposition had no desire to punish anybody, but they d'd have a very keen desire Io maintain adequate discipline throughout the- country'.