LABOUR FACES SPLIT

Chronicle (Levin), 4 June 1948, Page 5

LABOUR FACES SPLIT

(N.Z.P.A,-

-Reuter;

Cabinet's Dilemma Over No Haiiging Issue

Copyright )

Received Friday, 10.30 a.m. LONDON, June 3. Cabinet is today considering the House of Lords' rejection of the abolition of the death sentence. It is faced with ' a split in its Own ranks a'nd with a threatened crisis with the House of Lords if it asks the House of Commons to reinstate the abolition clause or suggest a compromise. The Bill will not return from the House of Lords for some time, enabling Cabinet to consider all the implications of the Lords' strong non-abolition vote and the Lord Chief Justice, -Baron Godaard's, charge that the reprieves granted by the Home Secretary, Mr. J. 'Chuter Ede, ' are a breach of the constitu^ion. This charge is believed to be causing Cabinet to make a closer investiga'tion than was anticipated. By the known attitude of the Lords before the vote was taken there, informed circles say that the Lords are unlikely to change their views or aceep't a canvassed compromise imposing the death sentence for eonvietion on a. secmd murder. Other questions before Cabinet are: Will the degrees of murder be recognised with hanging for the more premeditated cases? Will nanging be allowed for crimes in addition to treason, including the murder of a policeman or repellant types of murder such as poisoning? It is recalled that the Government itself is opposed to the abolition at this scage owing to the abnormal crime wav#. The Commons' and Lords' opposition, as well as widespread. public opposition to the abolition, offers the Government a way out if it is prepared to take it, but there is a strong feeling amongst the Labour jack-oenchers that the Lords should not be allowed to dictate to che Commons. Because of this chere will probably be strong Commons' support for the reinstate.nent of the "no hanging" clause.