§ Major ARCHER-SHEEI beg to ask the Home Secretary a question, of which I have given private notice, namely, upon what grounds the recent sentences upon Messrs. Bowman and Buck have been reduced, and entirely altered in character?
§ Mr. McKENNAIt is not usual for the Home Secretary to state the grounds on which he advises His Majesty in the exercise of the Prerogative of Mercy, but I may say that in advising the reduction of the sentence on the Bucks from six months to one month, I had in view the 1051 facts, represented to me by the Attorney-General, that the part they took in the offence was subordinate and little more than ministerial, and that the main object of the prosecution, which was to establish the gravity of the offence and warn others against its repetition, had been attained. The same considerations applied in a less degree to the case of Bowman, whose sentence has been reduced from nine to six months. It can hardly be said that the character of the sentence has been altered by the remission of hard labour, as under modern conditions the difference between hard labour and imprisonment in the third division is comparatively slight.
§ Mr. REMNANTWill the right hon. Gentleman reconsider in the same way the sentences of hard labour recently passed on certain women who lost control of themselves?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, Sir, any particular case that the hon. Gentleman brings to my notice I shall certainly consider.
§ Mr. REMNANTI shall bring to the notice of the right hon. Gentleman all the cases in which hard labour was imposed.
§ Mr. McKENNAI cannot deal with the cases en bloc; if the hon. Member will show me any particular case of hardship I will consider it.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIn face of the public opinion existing in different parts of the country in connection with the three cases mentioned in the question, can the right hon. Gentleman see his way clear to release the men at once?
§ Mr. McKENNANo, Sir, I cannot go beyond what I have done.