THE DEATH PENALTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1921, Page 5

THE DEATH PENALTY.

ITS ABOLITION SOUGHT. HOUSE REJECTS PROPOSAL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Capital punishment was discussed in the House to-day, when Mr. J. McCombs (Lyttelton), moved the second reading of the Abolition of Capital Punishment Bill. He urged that capital punishment had already been abolished in Holland, Finland, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Portugal and Roumania, and in each of these countries murders had decreased. Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition) opposed the Bill, because as the result of long experience at the criminal bar he was satisfied capital punishment was a deterrent against serious crime. The Hon. E. P. Lee (Minister of Justice), said such punishments were necessary for the safety of society. Every, care was taken to protect accused per-s sons who were innocent, and after sentence was passed, these matters were carefully considered by Cabinet; no matter was so carefully considered. Mr. H. E. Holland (Leader of the Labor Party) contended that the abolß tion of capital punishment would result z in fewer murders. Mr. J. Edie (Bruce) said the Minister of Justice should prohibit the publican tion of details of executions, which ini some cases were revolting. Beyond tha fact that the death sentence was carried out nothing should be published. Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) would vote against the Bill, because he could not agree that the abolition of capita - ! punishment would lessen crime. Mr. V. H. Potter (Roskill) would re. gret to see the abolition of capital puiM ishment. The greatest deterrent against, murder was the knowledge that the. murderer's life would be taken for the life he himself had taken. j A division was called for, when thq Bill was rejected by 62 votes to 7.