§ 11. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the recent public whipping of two Government clerks, named Hall and Taylor, at Zaria, in Northern Nigeria; whether the offence for which they were punished was playing football in the market place; whether they were stripped naked before being publicly whipped; and whether the Resident will be instructed to prevent such whippings in future?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Harcourt)I have called for and received a report on the circumstances referred to. The two African native clerks mentioned persisted, after due warning by the police, in kicking a football about on a public road and in the market square, causing general annoyance and damage to goods exposed for sale. 1203 The offence was one against the properly constituted native authority of the town, and was dealt with by the native court with the consent of the Resident and in accordance with the law administered by such courts. I do not propose to communicate further with the Governor on the subject.