WOMEN SUPPORT FLOGGING

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 148, 18 March 1939, Page 6 (Supplement)

WOMEN SUPPORT FLOGGING

Women magistrates, at a private meeting of county J.P.’s at the Guildhall, Westminster, recently, voted against abolition of flogging in England.

By 38 votes to 11 the meeting decided that no sufficient reason had been advanced to justify the abolition, as proposed under Sir Samuel Hoare’s new Criminal Justice Bill. The ease against abolition was put first by Sir Gilfred G. Craig, chairman of the Uxbridge Petty Sessional Division, who received his knighthood in the New Year Honours.

Mrs. Arthur Barnes, an Acton J.P., seconded the motion. She said later:

“Though I dislike the idea of this form of punishment, I voted for the retention of flogging. “I feel this is a weapon on the side of the law which should not be taken away.

‘T’he police constable has his truncheon —but he is not always hitting people over the head with it. That is how I would illustrate my point of view.”

Mrs. Taylor, J.P., Mayor of Eealing, who was called away from the meeting before the resolution was put, said she would have voted in favour of retention if she had stayed. "There is a certain type of brute who will respond only to punishment of that kind,” she said. “I have been a trained teacher, and at my school it was my job to administer the cane. “The same thing applies to adults. There are some prisoners, accused of certain crimes—crimes of violence, for instance —who would not be moved by any other form of punishment than physical pain.” Mrs. Lovibond, an Uxbridge J.P., who also voted for flogging, said: “Physical punishment is absolutely necessary in certain cases where brutality has occurred.” Mrs. A. E. Astley, of Leytonstone, a member of the Home Office Committee which recommended the abolition of flogging, said she was surprised to hear of the resolution of the justices. "I am more surprised that a number of women magistrates have voted for the resolution,” she added.