HC Deb 14 August 1916 vol 85 cc1589-90

(1) It shall not be lawful to make any appeal to the public for donations or subscriptions in money or in kind to any war charity as hereinafter defined, or to raise or attempt to raise money for any such charity by promoting any bazaar, sale, entertainment or exhibition, or by any similar means, unless the charity is registered under this Act and the approval of the committee or other governing body of the charity has been obtained, either directly or through any person duly authorised to give such approval on behalf of such governing body, in writing, and if any person contravenes the provisions of this Section he shall be guilty of an offence against this Act:

Provided that this provision shall not apply to any collection at Divine Service in a place of public worship nor to any charity which may, subject to any regulations made under this Act, be exempted by the registration authority from the provisions of this Section.

(2) This Section, so far as it relates to registration, shall not apply to any charity until the expiration of one month after the passing of this Act, nor pending the consideration by the registration authority of an application for registration made within such month.

Amendments made: In Sub-section (1), after the word "approval" ["and the approval"], insert the words "in writing."

After the word "body" ["such governing body"], leave out the words "in writing."—[Mr. Brace.]

Mr. HAZLETON

I beg to move, to leave out the word "provision" ["Provided that this provision"], and to insert instead thereof the word "Act."

I do so, because it seems to me, on the reading of this Section as it stands, it would bear the exclusion of war charities or collections at Divine Service at a place of worship for any charity which may, subject to any regulations made under this Act, be exempted by the registration authority from the provisions of this Section. It would appear to me that if this change was not made, these charities would be exempted from Section 1, but they would be covered by the whole of the rest of the Clauses of this Bill. I would ask the Under-Secretary to deal with this.

Mr. BRACE

The word "provision" conveys the same meaning exactly as the word "Act," but, as it will make no difference to the principle of the Bill, I will accept the hon. Member's Amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendments made: In Sub-section (2), after the word "nor" ["nor pending the consideration by"], insert the words "to any charity." Leave out the words "consideration by" and insert instead thereof the words "decision of." Leave out the word "of" ["of an application for registration"] and insert instead thereof the word "on." After the word "for" ["application for registration"], insert the word "the." After the word "registration" ["application for registration made"] insert the words "of such charity."—[Mr. Brace.]