§ 7. Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the action of the Justices of Pontefract Petty Sessions on 26th November in ordering each of a number of schoolboys found guilty of theft to be placed on probation for two years and to receive six strokes with the birch rod; and whether he proposes any amendment of the law to prohibit concurrent infliction of whipping with probation even for separate offences?
§ Sir V. HENDERSONMy right hon. Friend has received a report from the pontefract Justices from which it appears that the boys were not placed on probation but were ordered to be whipped and bound over for two years to be of good behaviour under the Summary Jurisdiction Act. The question raised in the last paragraph therefore does not arise.