Rules 290–294 which deal with the infliction of Corporal punishment, I have to refer you to the 4th para: of my Despatch No 141 of the 26th July last, in which I pointed out that the instructions in regard to Corps floggings contained in my Despatch No 254 of the 25th June 1896 had been disregarded in the new Rules had (17041)
The Instructions referred to, which limited the power to flog for prison offences to a greater extent than is the case in other Crown Colonies, were rendered necessary by the abuses of those powers in the Victoria Gaol, and were reversed without reference to me. I must request you to furnish me with some explanation of the matter.
If I am now, however, prepared to modify the special restrictions imposed by my Despatch, the Rules now in force facilitate the infliction of corporal punishment to a greater extent than I am prepared to approve. I am, however, willing to modify the special restrictions imposed by my Despatch