NATIVE DOCKERS FLOGGED,

Otago Witness, Issue 2761, 13 February 1907, Page 26

NATIVE DOCKERS FLOGGED,

-•■ „ AN INCIDENT AT LAGOS. LONDON. Februaiy 4. Damages and costs have been awarded to the native dockers who were recently Hogged at Lago:«. I In the House of Commons in December Mr Summerbell (Sunderland). Mr Bennett (Oxfordshire, Woodstock), and Mr Harold (^ox (Preston), asked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies whether he had any official information showing that on 12 Jekri dock and wharf labourers at LaRO3 applying to a British port official there for their wages (which were due), 6tating that they were starving, this official ordered them on board the steam launch Otho, took them out into mid-stream, and there administered to them 25 lashes each ; and, if so, what action ho intended to take in regard to the matter. Mr -Churchill said " the Governor of Southern Nigeria reports that the incident in question, which occurred on the 2nd inst., was brought to his notke on the 6th.inst., and that he immediately ordered an inquiry. The result of the inquiry was to show that the port officer, Captain Hughes, did not himself strike any one, but that he ordered the native headman to do so because the men refused to work. The blows were inflicted with a small whip. Most of the j men received only one blow each, and no one received more than six. The medical report is to the effect that the flogging was not severe, and that the men are not now i suffering from any injuries. Ou four men . there are no marks, and on the others only slight ekin abrasions. This affair has been much exaggerated in the newspaper reports ; but while theee whippings do not appear to have been oruel or' severe, they are, of course, illegal and improper. The port officer has been censured by the Governor, j and the Secretary of State reserves his de- i cision as to any further action until he . receives the report which th§ Governor has j