CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18025, 21 May 1930, Page 9

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

■ /' ■ ,(To' the Editor.) , Sir,—Canon Kayll has made’a very . j)lausiblel out for the retention of capital punishment hut I do not think it will carry much weight-with that rapidly , growing body of people who question the right of any man to take ft the life of another. Time and again h'thc' laiv’has” been proved to’be an ass arid no more frequently than in cases ' where the death penalty has been indicted. Murderers are usually in two classes —those who. are sane and those ■ whose mental faculties are impaired s Tire latter should be committed to ■ asylums while . the criminal murderer whose deed was cold and calculating should be sentenced to life imprisonment. There is at least a chance then • to apply the principles of penal reform and so to make a man regret his hasty action that he will lead a new life. If a criminal murderer is told that (say) .20 years of his sentence will he com- • muled if he behaves himself in prison and 1 turns his mind to better things is • it likely he will develop into the homicidal maniac which Canon Kayll describes? Is death the greatest deterrent? This is a very moot point and personally I think life imprisonment Is no less a deterrent than death.—l am, ■ ’ .• • humane; ,\