Daily Mirror, 10 May 1967

Cane is banned for Navy boys

CANING of boy sailors has been abolished as a Navy punishment.This was revealed in a Commons answer yesterday.

Mr. Gerry Reynolds, Minister of Defence (Administration), toldMr. Harry Howarth (Lab., Wellingborough): "Caning has beenaccepted for many years as one form of discipline of juniors inthe Royal Navy.

"It has not been a subject of complaint fromparents."

But Mr. Reynolds said the practice had been reviewed. TheGovernment had decided to bring the Navy "into line with theother two Services in this respect."

Mr. Reynolds concluded: "The practice of caning hastherefore been abolished."

Daily Mail, London, 10 May 1967

Navy stops boy beatings

THE NAVY has abolished the caning of boy sailors, Mr. Gerry Reynolds, Minister of Defence (Administration) told the Commons yesterday.

He said caning was accepted for many years as a form of discipline for minors in the Royal Navy. But it had now been decided to bring the Navy into line with the other two Services.

The RAF had never sanctioned corporal punishment for its cadets and apprentices, and the Army abolished it in 1956.