WANT DEATH PENALTY

Chronicle (Levin), 15 July 1949, Page 7

WANT DEATH PENALTY

Press Association )

W.D.F.F. Discusses Sexual Crimes

(Per

WELLINGTON, Jllly . 14, .■ From almost every part of New Zea land came remits dealing. with capitai punishment, corporal punishment/liic sentences for crime and the treatment . ! of persons convicted of sexual c'riihe which were on tlie agenda paper at thi Dominion conference of the Wohi&n's Division of Federatesd Farmers .to7day " ^ It was agreed that the Governmen^ be urged to reihstate / capital puiiish ment arid that as a deterient agiuris-../ brutal assatilts oh women and children women's organisations are to be ask€u to press for the reinstatement of corp . oral punishment^ ! . "We have 13 cfiminals at large' iii New Zealand ' at present, guilty. '01 murder," said the delegat.e who nioyw.; ■ "that life imprisonmenl bt the wholj of a person }s natural life and no sen tence of life imprisonment be reduced." This was earried. "In the light of new medical kmrn ledge, something could be doue in the. ■ matter of treating some people. 'CbiiyiclC.' ed of sexual crime," Cthb sneaker»Vaid:> : In Canada offenders wero^giyeh khnl ( ' indeterftunate sentence " ' till k ihedill eal board which sat in. conjunCtip,o; .#il nj | the Court, granted a Qleara^icje-;io.r J release. *-.v Another delegate argufed- thai-' person ' • guilty of sexual assault wfefe .ineiitail// sick and curative treatmeht.' was-. heed ■ - ed. V In view of the continued fraqueneyC' of brutal assaults on women • and.. chihi ' dren, more realistic measurys'should'.be/' taken for their protection/-sthved>.*re\-:C piit which was 'earried. I.t aHd'Cd persons convicted of sexudi eriJiu; ; should be given speeialised " medina traatment during their »period of deteif tion and that before tliey were releaa v ed they should satisfy a medical boaru. ; that they were mentally, mora'lly'" andr pliysically fit to be given their free / dom. . .. ; . : Some form of protection -was necessary for country Women where .deliu . • quent boys were employed pn farips/' stated a delegate, as,. lackiug soim mental balance, these boys might coni ' : mit a crime. The conference passed a/ remit in this conneetion which stated: "That in 'view of the isolated iives ; country women lead, no* boys' wifh , criv'? minal records who'have 'coiiie under tin ' notice of the authorities, be sent to tut ,j country without the employera beiiig' ! notifled of the boys' reeord. " . ' All these' •remits" were discussed . . Hf ' length. The Dominion presideilt,' . M i>. : J. R. Haldane, desc'ribed them Vs' v Vi; [ tally important." " ' ' Treatment,.- not punislimeht, be the method df 6oriection thoug^t;.D/|; Agnes Bennett who address'e4.*«the cbjt/'; ference before the "justipe'/ •reniit' ■] were discussed. She referred !to • reniitr \ dealing with crimes of sexuak iss'aultl . When in England ;she had. visited.-an ui- \ stitutjon where 'ihere yvere 40 to 66-? small girls; victini!/ of , sexual •assa'u't.U..* j Recently in New Zealand she haa beeu' ' brought into contjact with. a 13 year -aid ! giri^ whc had undergone a .'caesarean J section. "These things prove wha't ou' / girls are risking," said T)ri BenhetK • She did not need to convince- the inee'^i ing of the neeessity for the prtftectiv#q measures . th^t were to be dispussed, i she said. , . /'