FLOGGING: A WOMAN M.P.'S VIEWS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 89, 11 October 1941, Page 8

FLOGGING: A WOMAN M.P.'S VIEWS

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—-Owing to pressure of business I have been unable until now to answer the correspondent "A Mother" regarding' flogging. My reasons for voting in favour of abolition of this form of punishment are as follows:—

1. I do not think that flogging would be sufficiently effective to the'type who commit such offences. I do think that any punishment to a man who had committed an offence on an innocent child cannot be too great, and in my opinion feel' he should have an indeterminate sentence during which time he should be under strict surveillance of a trained psychiatrist or a similar experienced person. I also feel sure that no normal man could do such dreadful things as we learn of and certainly should not be free to mix among our little ones and our womenfolk, but he must be looked on as mentally sick and treated accordingly.

2. The flogging has to be done by someone, and I feel it must be a strain on the one who has to do it, realising it is easy perhaps for one to strike a person in the heat of anger but to do so In cold blood would be a dreadful task and tends to brutalise the one who inflicts the punishment.

I would also like to draw the attention of "A Mother" to my very earnest efforts for women police and express my deep appreciation to the Government for forming this branch of the service. lam sure that women in this capacity will do much to lessen this grave evil.—l am, etc.,

CATHERINE STEWART, M.P,