Above all for-New Zealand Truth THE NATIONAL PAPER THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1929. Scandalously Unjust

NZ Truth, Issue 1212, 21 February 1929, Page 6

Above all forNew Zealand Truth THE NATIONAL PAPER THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1929. Scandalously Unjust

JN dealing with the modern criminal, 'Society Ims, very properly, founded, a new pen til code which rests on the rock of humanity and common sense. Gone are the days of the treadmill and all the rest of the soul and character-destroying "corrective" measures of the last century. ' , • But we have, it would seem, long since transgressed the bounds of common sense m the administration of justice, and have permitted stupid sentimentalism to cloud the judgment of our judiciary until the punishment' of law-breakers has degenerated into something akin to a farce. : A striking illustration of this weakening of our judiciary vvas furnished m the Auckland Supreme Court the other day, when Mr. Justice Blair had before him for sentence the two men who were responsible for the "Westh'eld hold-up, at the revolver's point, of a party of jockeys. These desperadoes were not only armed with revolve rs, but they menaced the occupants of the car m the carrying out of their thieving escapade. Actually ■■; one. of the revolvers was fired at. a pursuing motor cyclist. A most grave and serious crime against a peaceful community if ever there was one, but how did Mr. Justice Blair punish .the offenders? With twelve months' reformative detention— one of the most scandalously "inadequate sentences that could be imagined, having regard to all the circumstances of the case. The . question of these desperadoes being merely <unateur. holdup men was raised and, amazing to relate, the judge actually gave credence to this fantastic plea. Before passing sentence his Honor said he had given due consideration to the fact of the amateur status, but expressed grave doubts as to 1 - whether ■ he* was doing his duty to the public m passing the sentence, ;h,e did. That m itself, is a remarkable factor. A judge ol the Supreme Court should have no doubts ' whatever iri his mind as to the punishment warranted m the case of any particular offence. The punishment meted out by Mr. Justice Blair will be no deterrent to other recklessly and ■crim inally - disposed individuals. , Rather the reverse, if anything.