A Decision on Flogging . Sir Samuel Hoare is convinced that
the abolition of flogging is a wise as well as a humane proposal, and the Standing Committee in the House of Commons on Tuesday adopted the clause to this effect in the Criminal Justice Bill by 32 votes to 17. There is a Conservative opposition strongly hostile to the abolition, and its members put their case vigorously. When a strong Departmental Committee pro- nounces unanimously for the abolition of flogging (except for attacks on warders) and gives its reasons it is only for very strong cause shown that its conclusions should be rejected, and in this case strong cause has certainly not been shown. The balance of evidence is against flogging. It is true, as some of the speakers in favour of flogging pointed out, that the interests of the community have a foremost place, but those interests include the hope of exercising reformative influences on criminals, and as Sir Donald Somervell emphasised, we have outgrown the instrument of flogging, which is a punish- ment degrading alike to the person who receives it, to the officer who administers it, and to the society which uses it. The House will no doubt confirm the Standing Committee's decision.
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