HC Deb 10 August 1916 vol 85 cc1379-80

If any person in any application for registration or in any notification of any change requiring alterations in the registered particulars makes any false statement or false representation, or if he fails to send any notification which he is required under this Act to send, he shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.

Mr. BRACE

I beg to move, after the word "representation," to insert the words "or if any person falsely represents himself to be an officer or agent of a registered charity."

Mr. PENNEFATHER

I beg to propose, as an Amendment to the proposed Amendment, to leave out the word "an" ["an officer"] and to insert instead thereof the words "a duly authorised." In another Amendment which I moved the hon,. Gentleman agreed that there was some substance in my suggestion that we should have the words "war charity" instead of "registered charity." For that reason it might be advisable to insert the words "a duly authorised."

Mr. BRACE

I am willing to accept the words "war charity" in place of "registered charity."

Sir G. TOULMIN

Before the words "duly authorised" are accepted, may I ask why should we make it more difficult to convict any person who commits an offence of this kind? Why should he not be convicted if he represents himself to be an officer, and why should it be necessary to prove that he represented that he was a duly authorised officer?

Mr. BRACE

I would rather not have the words "duly authorised," but I would prefer to have the words "war charity." That would give us a broader term and enable us to get at charities which were not registered.

Amendment to the proposed Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Amendment made to the proposed Amendment: Leave out the word "registered," and insert instead thereof the word "war."

Proposed words, as amended, there inserted.

Clause, as amended, agreed to, and ordered to stand part of the Bill.