HC Deb 24 May 1916 vol 82 cc2178-9

(1) Every man who holds a certificate of exemption granted under the principal Act shall, if required by a constable or by any person who has authority for the purpose from the Army Council, produce his certificate or give particulars as to the authority by which the certificate was granted and the grounds on which it was granted.

If any man fails to comply with this provision or gives particulars which are false in any material respect, he shall in respect of each offence be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months.

(2) If any person alters or tampers with a certificate of exemption granted under the principal Act, or personates or falsely represents himself to be a person to whom such a certificate has been granted, or improperly allows any other person to have possession of any such certificate issued for his use alone, he shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, with or without hard labour.

Lords Amendment:

In Sub-section (2) leave out the words "with or without hard labour."

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

Mr. KING

This is another of my Amendments which, when I brought it before the Committee of this House, was all wrong, but when it is brought up across the passage at the other end of this building it is all right. I do not congratulate the Lords, but I congratulate the House upon the result which is now achieved.

Mr. R. McNEILL

My comment on this is that it is all wrong still. It is just as wrong when it comes from the other end of the corridor as it was when the suggestion was made by the hon. Member in this House. I think some member of the Government should explain why it is necessary to make this alteration. Is it the object to take it out of the power of the tribunal, to inflict hard labour in these cases? Why should that not be left to the discretion of the tribunals which have to try these cases?

Sir G. CAVE

The Amendment is really only a drafting one. Without these words the effect is the same.

SCHEDULE.
Session and Chapter. Short Title. Extent of Repeal.
5 & 6 Geo. 5, c. 104. The Military Service Act, 1916. Sub-section (4) of Section one; the words "before the appointed date" in Sub-section (5) of Section two; and the words "and, subject to any provision which may hereafter be made by Parliament, men who have been discharged from the naval or military service of the Crown on the termination of their period of service" in paragraph five of the First Schedule.

Lords Amendment:

After the word "Schedule," insert the words ("and the word 'local' wherever it occurs before the word 'tribunals' in paragraph (6) of the Second Schedule").—Agreed to.