29 MAY 1926, Page 14

THE DEATH PENALTY IN NEW ZEALAND

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR ,—In your " Spectabilia " of February 27th last the follow- ing definite statement appears : " The only Country in the British Empire which has abolished the death penalty is New Zealand." That statement is unfounded. In New Zealand, as in old England, the death penalty is still inflicted for (1) murder, (2) treason and (8) certain forms of piracy.

I speak not without authority. Not long since it was my painful duty to sentence a man to death for murder in this Dominion. He certainly was hanged a feiv weeks later !—