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A-No, I think that such a thing is unnecessary. What I mean to say is, with reference to the severity of the flogging, that so long as the Medical Officer considers that the punishment is being inflicted in such a way that no bodily harm would be done to the man, nobody can say that brutality occurs in the Gaol.
Dr. ATKINSON--Still you would not expect abscesses to result from flogging, much less death, would you?
Hon. Commander HASTINGS-About three per cent. of abscesses.
WITNESS--I might say that on the 16th of last month I wrote to Japan. I first of all wrote to Mr. FORD to ask him if he could supply me with any material to make a birch, my attention having been called to the increased number of gluteal abscesses. Mr. FORD told me he could not supply me with the necessary material and told me I could get it from Japan. I wrote to Japan and the answer I received was that they had none in store, but they would get some and send it down to me. My idea was that I should get a birch made up in much the same way as the birch at home and submit it for the approval of the Government to be used in cases where the doctor may consider the rattan is too heavy an instrument to punish a prisoner with.
THE CHAIRMAN--Under the change of doctors that has occurred quite lately have you noted any difference in the backwardness or otherwise of the respective doctors zo sanction flogging?
WITNESS-No.
Dr. ATKINSON-Are you of opinion that a more frequent application and fewer number of strokes would be a greater deterrent?
WITNESS-Yes, I do not think it would do a prisoner so much harm.
THE CHAIRMAN-More floggings and fewer strokes ?
WITNESS-Yes.
Meeting held on Friday, 26th June, 1896.
Present: His Honour Mr. T. SERCOMBE SMITH, (Acting Puisne Judge), Chairman.
Commander W. C. H. HASTINGS, R.N., Acting Police Magistrate.
Dr. J. M. ATKINSON, Acting Colonial Surgeon.
Dr. AYRES examined.
THE CHAIRMAN-Dr. AYRES, we want to ask you some questions about your experience of flogging in the Gaol. How long were you at the Gaol?
WITNESS About twenty-three years. I introduced flogging at the Goal; it is the Indian fashion.
Q-You introduced flogging with the rattan?
A-Yes.
Q-When was that?
A-That was somewhere about 1877 or 1878.