RIOT SENTENCES

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1932, Page 8

RIOT SENTENCES

ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE HOUSE

CASES OF REMISSION.

WELLINGTON, November 12

An announcement' that the" pru-pn sentences imposed on two 1 of the mett involved in ‘the recent Wellington riots lhad' been partly remitted by the Prisons Board was made; in the “House ■yesterday afternoon by the ■'‘-'Minister 1 of Justice, Hon. J. G.- C°bbe. G. '•Berry had bebrt 1 granted a ' of four months fronrhis years sentence, while W; HV Pearce had b-«n allotted. a ‘"six weeks’ 'Vettiirsipn and -will ’be discharged ‘before. Chnstirias.-’ -

During discussion of the Justice Department's Estimates, tlip Leader of tHo ! Opposition. 1 Mr ■" H. 'E; HoL land, said that considering the meTl' were gui.ltv of only what miorht ■be called political’ offences, he ' thought the sentences extremely severe. Mr E. J. Howard 1 (Lab., Fhr/t----clmfeh South) drew the -attention Of the House to the c'a'se of a Man who had been sentenced because h e Bnd in liis poss n ,'Siorf literature of the mo«t moderate, description, including a copy of last year’s Estimates. '

; The Minister said he wa.s sorrv t.h r .question had again been raised in thy. :House, and sorry- also to hear fi’e .Leader of the (Opposition describe what Took place as ’“petty ’offences.” If u"?s 'iTrpossible, he for any :Minister' ; to interfere with the course of’ justice. A number of the hr id bpeh'ref erred’tb‘the Prisorw Board iand in six out of seven cases the ken:-’ tences, had been reduced, j Mr ' W; "E. '"Parry* " (Lab., Auckland Central' • Wa-s iDe-vei-enu considered?-“ iJ The -Minister :/No, T have further evidence in regard, to Devereau which •ma-ken the case somewhat" MOfe serious. -Mr, Parry: It’s an outrage. ■''■ihi" + er §aid /e , thought that a. general releaee of th-e prisoners at th'e present time Would / have a bad r ffM,. Rn referred 'to the recent botnb-fchrowing cases in the South' 'lsland. ,There wst-s a ’spirit ai’-voad at’ present, he said, whir-h made it unwlte. for offences ’ akai'n't life and -property to he token li-htly.