Report No. 39

17. Omission of section 58.-

Reference has already been made to section 58 which formerly was sufficient statutory authority for dealing with persons sentenced to rigorous imprisonment. Although the section was intended to be a temporary holding provision authorising such treatment only until the prisoner was transported beyond the seas, it appeared to have served the purpose even in regard to prisoners who were actually never transported. It was logical to omit section 58, since with the abolition of transportation, there would be no need in future for the special provision, but the Act of 1955 did not make any other provision to indicate how exactly persons sentenced to imprisonment for life should be dealt with.