THE “CAT” AS A DETERRENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2860, 19 March 1925, Page 3

THE “CAT” AS A DETERRENT.

Recent sentences in Sydney, in which Hogging was ordered for the baser sorts of criminal acts, have invoked the usual protests against the use of “the cat,” with customary depreciation of judicial wisdoju and humanity. In the latest of these eases the Judge frankly declared hs opinion that Hogging was the only remedy against sexual crimes. “There are far too many of them,” he added. “I will not stand tor it.” The lash seems to cut as sorely against the grain of some sensitive souls, as Across the skin of the actual victims; but whether it is not truly, as the Judge said, the only remedy in certain circumstances is scarcely a matter of opinion in the light, of experience. Years ago there was a sudden recrudescence’ of the old “push” outrages in Sydney, and some desperately brutal deeds were done in courts, among other places, in the outbreak. At the instance of the late Mi 1 R. E. O’Connor, a 'law was passed ordaining the lash in extreme cases. The result was that “push ism” shut down very quickly and order reigued again.