§ 2. Sir W. BYLESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, seeing that the caning of boys in the Royal Navy is henceforth to be restricted to serious offences, such as theft, drunkenness, and insubordination, and in view of the importance of knowing the yearly increase or decrease in such offences, will he give instructions that the quarterly punishment Returns shall in future be made in such a form as to render the desired information accessible?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe punishment is classified under the head of minor punishments, as it is not permanently recorded against the offender and has no effect upon his prospects. The work involved in extracting the information as to the number of canings in each quarter would be great, and the object to be gained does not seem to justify the expenditure of labour involved. I will, however, consider 358 whether it would be practicable to enlarge the Statistical Return, which is now rendered by each Fleet yearly, so as to show the number of canings of boys with a view to their being shown separately in the Annual Returns of Courts Martial and Summary Punishments inflicted. But I must not be understood definitely to promise that this can be done.
§ Sir W. BYLESHas it not been stated that this method of punishment is only used in serious cases? Is it not possible to say how many there have been, without much trouble?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAYes, it is used only in serious cases. But the question is whether the information is of such value as to justify the labour of getting it.
§ Sir W. BYLESDo you want to keep the information back?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANo.