(73)
A-Yes, I explained that before you came in.
Dr. ATKINSON-Have you had any experience of Gaol administration at home?
WITNESS-No.
Q-Do you think the Chinese prisoners would rather submit to a flogging and subsequent rest in Gaol to doing the hard labour?
A-If you do not flog them they will not do hard labour.
Q-What I mean is that to escape hard labour they prefer in some cases to be flogged.
A--No, I do not think so.
Q--What is the greatest number of floggings you have administered in one day while you have been Superintendent of the Gaol?
none.
A-I do not know the figures.
Q--Roughly?
A--I have certainly sent up twelve in one day.
Q--That is exceptional, I suppose?
A-That is exceptional; generally there are not more than three, and often
Q--There were over 500 floggings, I think, in 1895 ?
A--Over 400.
THE CHAIRMAN-The total I have here for 1895 is 535 ?
Dr. ATKINSON-You say the reason for that great increase is, in your opinion, a conspiracy by a large number of inmates to refuse to do hard labour?
A-Yes.
Q-How do you think they can conspire together? They are not allowed to talk. A-They do it.
Q-If that was the case one would think it occurred in a limited period.
A-It does occur in a limited period. In two months, as far as I can recollect. there were as many as 140 floggings.
Q-Is it customary to report to the Governor in every case of flogging?
A---In every case.
Q-Were you asked by the Governor for the reason of the increase in the number of floggings?
A-I was asked to report on a despatch from the Secretary of State on the number of floggings in 1894.
Q-I suppose you are aware that at home floggings are very rarely administered. and the Governor's power is very much inore limited there than it is here ?
A-Yes, I think so.
Q-Do you not think that other forms of punishment might be administered at the Gaol ?
A-What other forms?
Q-Cross-irons is one allowed in the Regulations.