-
Victoria Gaol, and to inform you that, in view of his strong representations, I have decided not to suspend the operation of the rule (W:274) referred to in the 3rd para- graph of your despatch under reply, pending the receipt of further instructions in
this matter.
I have the honour to be,
Sir, Your most Obedient Humble dervant, Wilhain Robing.
Copy
Enclosure.
0.0
11139 Rent Report tv the Superintendent of the Victoria Geb.AY ́S!
Hon: Colonial Secretary,
617
With refernce to His Excellency's Minute I aust
respectfully observe that I see strong ricasons why the operation of
the rule conferring the power of whipping on the Superintendent
should not be suspeniei.
(1) The power having once teen conferred on the Superintend-
eat it would inmediately to letected by the prisoners, the majority
of whom are uncommonly shrewd, that this power bad teen taken from bia
and they would come to the conclusion that the Superintendent's de-
cision in cases of treaches of discipline and the punishments
avaried by bin hal been called in question. This would seriously
weaken the position of the Superintendent in the Gaol and have a
most detrimental effect on discipline.
(2) The maximum punishment which the Superintendent could
award would be 3 days solitary confinement on punishment diet with or
without an extension of the prescrited period on or reversion to No.1
Hard Latour. I do not bere mention the forfeiture of sarks for it is
dot the long sentence prisoners who generally commit themselves in
such a manner as to leserve whipping. Three lays on punishment dist
is not felt by a Chinese as it is ty an Englishnan. In the super
months evad in a jarkened punishment cell ( which constitutes soll-
tary confinegent) it is not deterrent to 90 per cent of the Chinese
prisoners
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