HC Deb 18 July 1904 vol 138 cc263-4
MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he will state the number of floggings by caning inflicted on board the ships of war and training ships of the Royal Navy in the years 1900, 1901, 1902, and 1903, with a classification of the offences for which the floggings were inflicted and the age of the offenders who were thus punished.

THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. PRETYMAN,) Suffolk, Woodbridge

I regret to be unable to accede to the request of the hon. Member. As intimated in my reply of the 5th July.†. † See (4) Debates, cxxxvii, 636. the advantage of obtaining such a Return would not justify the very considerable labour entailed in preparing it.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Does the hon. Gentleman understand I ask only for classification and not for particular offences?

MR. PRETYMAN

Yes, but the hon. Member does not realise that what he asks for would involve an examination of the punishment returns of every ship in the service for a period of four years—a very great labour indeed.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Then is this punishment resorted to for very minor offences?

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Then I will put a Question which is perfectly orderly. Why does the hon. Gentleman refuse this information when he has granted it in regard to other kinds of punishment?

[No Answer was returned.]

MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)

Has the hon. Gentleman ever experienced this kind of punishment.

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!