§ 40. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many 1873 floggings of natives have been carried out by the courts in Northern Rhodesia during the last quarter of 1938; for what crimes this penalty is inflicted; and what action he proposes to take to abolish this form of punishment?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreAs regards the first part of this question, I regret that separate figures for the period mentioned have not yet been received, but I will ask the Governor for them. As regards the second part, corporal punishment is not prescribed as a penalty for any specific offence under the Penal Code of Northern Rhodesia, but under Section 29 of that Code a court may order whipping or caning in addition to, or in substitution for, any sentence of imprisonment for any offence punishable by a term of three months or more, not being imprisonment which may be ordered for non-payment of a fine. As regards the third part of the question, the power entrusted to the courts as above is at present wide, and I propose to take up with the Governor the wording of this particular section. I do not, however, consider that it is possible to abolish corporal punishment altogether.
§ Mr. SorensenCan the right hon. Gentleman supply information with regard to floggings for the whole year in the same way as the Secretary of State for the Dominions supplied information with regard to Southern Rhodesia? Further, may I ask whether he thinks that the institution of flogging is an indication of due appreciation of the British Empire?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreFlogging is not allowed under the particular penal code. Flogging is a term of art. Only whipping or caning is allowed.