plans to link the grant of United Kingdom passports to the citizens of the few remaining colonies by insisting on the abolition of hanging and flogging in the colonies. Both remain on the law books in Bermuda, although neither has been used for some considerable time.

Britain has a Labour government and both capital and corporal punishment have long been abolished in Britain. The British Government probably feels that it is unconscionable to retain colonies and grant favours if those colonies have laws which are seen as draconian in Britain. The truth is that some of the colonies are a good deal more conservative than today's Britain.

It is true that a very small turnout in a referendum voted to retain capital punishment in Bermuda and that recent surveys indicate that Bermudians are happy to have their children, or at least other people's children, physically punished in our schools. Judging from letters to the Editor, it would also seem that Bermudians are in favour of a return to flogging for violent crimes.

There are some remaining colonies which seem intent on hanging and there is wide Government acceptance of hanging in the former colonies to our south, notably Jamaica and Trinidad. A story in this newspaper yesterday indicates that St. Kitts and Nevis plans a hanging. These former colonies see hanging as a deterrent to crime even if there is no real evidence of that.

In Bermuda, we have had a number of horrendous murders in recent years, some multiple, mostly family related, but have not resorted to hangings. There seems to be a tacit agreement to commute sentences even though the death sentence is passed. We think there is general public acceptance that death sentences will not be carried out. Bermuda has not resorted to hanging for more than 20 years.

We agree with Premier Pamela Gordon who has been quoted as saying that for capital punishment to be taken off the books as a result of a quid pro quo with Britain and not as a result of a decision by the people of Bermuda causes some discomfort. However the advantages a British passport would offer Bermudians, especially young Bermudians seeking education, training and exposure in the "big time'', is a very small price to pay. We do not use the laws now. Many Bermudians view them as inhumane. Convicted people are removed from further harming society and punished by incarceration even if they are not flogged or hanged. Bermuda would be adequately protected if it could be agreed that those convicted of capital murder should never be released from prison.

If Britain were to include in the plan reciprocal rights of residence in Bermuda for British nationals, then Bermuda would very clearly be unable to agree politically or economically. We think very few Bermudians would move to Britain on a permanent basis but the lure of Bermuda and the attractiveness of our tax system, wealth and way of life might mean that a great many people would want to come here from Britain.

But keeping hanging and flogging is not a good reason to give up the advantages.