14 DECEMBER 1934, Page 2

Flogging in PriSona Though the Home Secretary has refused the

VeqUest of Mr. Bernays for an 'enquiry into the ilse. of the 'eat in prisons, the facts regarding the two Princetaivri'eoiiiiiets on whom sentence of that form of piniislunent-WIS recently passed make it difficult for the GovernMent to leave the matter where it is.. One of the taro 'then committed suicide, avowedly out of fear of the impending flogging, and the other has now apparently tried to do the same. At any rate Sir John Gilmour gave ,the unexpected information regarding him that he " had swallowed certain things deliberately and was now wider observation." There is no sympathy to be spared for , men who take advantage of their escape from prison to knock the driver. of a motor-van' uncon- scious with an iron bar, but in view of the strong Opinicris held by many prison medical officers against ffegging with the cat, and the startling effect a sentence of flogging had had in these Particular eases, it will not dO for the" Government to "dismiss the question as Of no importance. It should be raised again in the Honse of ConiinOris the Ilome Office vote.