FLOGGING OF PRISONERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24630, 11 June 1941, Page 6

FLOGGING OF PRISONERS

SENTENCES NOT YET CARRIED ' ! , ' /OUT GOVERNMENT STATEMENT SOUGHT (Special) WELLINGTON, June 10. " I will have to look into that matter," said the Attorney-general, Mr H. G. R. Mason, when asked to-day if the sentences of flogging imposed by Mr Justice Blair in: the Supreme Court at Auckland on four prisoners following assaults on warders had been carried oyt. Two of them who appealed werp Bryan James O'Hehir, aged 23, and John Henry Silva, aged 25, and the subsequent judgment of the Court of Appeal stated that the sentence of 12 years' imprisonment and 20 strokes imposed on them was not excessive in view of the gravity of the offences. In reply to a further question, Mr Mason said the sentences of flogging had not yet been carried out and he agreed that the law required it to be done within six months of the sentence being passed. The men were sentenced at Auckland last February. - ;Later, ih:the House of Represehta : tives, Mr W. P, Endean/ (Opposition, Remuera) asked the Minister whether, the sentences of flogging on certain prisoners for dangerous and vicious assaults on warders had been carried out. He recalled that the sentences had been confirmed by the Court of Appearand asked whether it was ;the intention of the Government to have them carried out. "Any-'failure; :to carry out the sentences/will mean the irempval "of a deterrent for others to commit a;'similar crime ahd>may affect the discipline in the gaoisi bf the Dominion,'''Mr Endean added;' ■ ■ -.