It will be seen from 280 and 281 of the proposed new Rules that we have made the infliction of the rattan or birch corporal punishment in the case of adults, while providing that the birch only should be used in the case of juveniles.
The second instance arises in connection with sub-section (VI) of paragraph 4 of the Report of the Committee where they recommend, by a majority of two to one, that certain definite intervals should elapse between floggings. No such intervals have, as far as I can ascertain, been prescribed by rules of any House Prison, and I agree with the opinion of Mr. Atkinson (the dissentient Member of the Committee) and with the Superintendent of the Gaol in thinking that the question whether a prisoner is in a fit state to receive a flogging should be left entirely to the determination of the Prison Surgeon, and moreover I conceive that the rigid prescription of fixed intervals between floggings might prove an obstacle to the maintenance of proper discipline in the Gaol.
The third instance in which I have departed from the recommendation of the "Flogging Committee" arises in connection with their recommendation that evidence in cases of enquiry leading to the infliction of punishment (at least in cases in which the Superintendent orders flogging) should be taken in writing. I have consulted with the Superintendent upon this point, and it seems clear from what he tells me, that such a procedure would occupy much time and would probably interfere with the meal hours of the Gaol officers and disturb the regular routine of the Prison.
The fourth instance in which I have not followed the recommendation regarding the imposition...