Figures...

Now to answer an imposing array of figures quoted by the "Dominion" on Thursday. February 19. In this article the period 1934-1948 inclusive is reviewed and some startling results obtained. For instance, in the seven years after the abolition of the death penalty the number of murders has an increase of over 61 per cent, on the number of murders in the seven years previous to 1941. An increase in population is very carefully omitted as this alters the picture somewhat.

Now let me quote some figures over a far wider range, from the year 1900-1948. The figures quoted were obtained from the "Annual Report of the Police Force of the Dominion presented to both Houses of the General Assembly" and also, for the populations. "The New Zealand Handbook,"