HC Deb 01 November 1913 vol 43 c726

This Act shall not apply where proceedings have been instituted before the commencement of this Act.

Mr. GREENWOOD

I beg to move, "That the Clause be read a second time."

The Clause simply applies the ordinary principle that if proceedings have been taken under an existing Act, and subsequently another Act comes into operation, it is unjust to the accused that the new Act should be retrospective and affect the earlier proceedings.

Mr. RADFORD

I beg to second the Motion.

Mr. McKENNA

I can only say that this Clause was moved in Committee and negatived; but if nobody objects to it, I do not.

Mr. BOOTH

I do not think it matters in the least whether the Clause goes in or not, because the Act is to be retrospective. Power is given to any policeman to arrest people if he thinks they hare in former years committed an offence.

Question put, and agreed to.

Clause read a second time, and added to the Bill.