§ 37. Sir R. GOWERasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the conviction at Hailsham Petty Sessions on Wednesday, 3rd May, of John Henry Everitt, for cruelty to a dog, to the sentence of imprisonment given him, and to the complaint of the presiding justice that the bench could not sentence an offender like Everitt, who had been five times previously convicted of cruelty, to be flogged; and whether, as similar complain-is have recently been made by other courts, he will now consider instituting legislation authorising courts to impose sentences of corporal punishment upon each offenders?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI have seen Press reports to the effect mentioned in the first part of the question. The answer to the second part is in the negative.