SENTENCES COMMUTED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1405, 3 April 1912, Page 5

SENTENCES COMMUTED.

THE DEFENCE ACT. IBj Correspondent.) Christchurch, April 2. .•; Cabinrt met to-day, and decided to ■-i'"commute the sentences of three weeks' imprisonment passed on youths within the Inst few days in default of payment of fines for refusing to take the oath of allegiance under the Defence Act. This information was given in a telegram from the Prime Minister to the Kov. K. S. Gray, of Christchurch to-day. Mr. Gray about a fortnight ago wroto to Sir Joseph Ward calling his attention to tho fact that the lads committed to prison under the Defence Act wore being treated as ordinary criminals, and asking whether this should not bo altered.. Sir. Gray made it clear that ho was in favour of the law being enforced until it was constitutionally repealed. Sir Joseph Ward replied that he was personally against the imprisonment of youths under the Defence system, and that the new Government would carefully consider it. As the treatment to which Mr. Gray objected was still being accorded to the lads lately sent to gaol, ho wired to tho . Hon. T. Mackenzie asking if he could not issito'instructions that tho lads in gaol under the Defence Act should not bo treated as oidinary criminals. To this n reply was received from Mr. Mackenzio tliis'ewninsr stating that tho matter had boeu considered, and that Cabinet to-day had decided that it would commute tho sentences.