HC Deb 09 March 1915 vol 70 cc1324-5

Sub-section (4) of Section one of the Defence of the Realm Consolidation Act, 1914, shall have effect as thought—

  1. (a) the maximum term of penal servitude which could be inflicted under Section five of the Army Act were seven years; and
  2. (b) in the proviso, for the word "death" there had been substituted the words "penal servitude for life or any shorter term."

Proposed Clause brought up, and read the first time.

Sir W. BYLES

I beg to move, "That the Clause be read a second time." This is a proposal for a mitigation of punishment. I confess that I have very little hope of it being accepted, but I have been asked by some of my friends outside to move it, and I do so because I am an invincible opponent of capital punishment, and I move it with all sincerity.

Mr. WATT

I beg to second the Motion.

Sir J. SIMON

I think my hon. Friend will realise that we could not on the Report stage of a Bill of this kind decide the serious problem as to whether capital punishment should be abolished.

Sir W. BYLES

I raised the point when the Bill was first introduced.

Sir J. SIMON

I think my hon. Friend will see that if capital punishment does exist in the ordinary law of this country, surely when some aliens betray the interests of this country capital punishment is all the more likely to commend itself in such a case to those who believe in the imposition of that punishment.

Question put, and negatived.