HC Deb 27 March 1917 vol 92 cc379-80

  1. (1) For paragraph (j) of Section one hundred and sixty-three of the Army Act, which relates to evidence, the following paragraph shall be substituted: "(j) Where the proceedings are proceedings against an officer or soldier on a charge of being a deserter or 380 absentee without leave, and the officer or soldier has surrendered himself into the custody of, or has been apprehended by a provost marshal, assistant provost marshal or other officer, or any portion of His Majesty's Forces, a certificate purporting to have been signed by such provost marshal, assistant provost marshal or other officer, or by the commanding officer of the portion of His Majesty's Forces to whom the surrender or by whom the arrest was made, and stating the fact, date and place of such surrender or arrest shall be evidence of the matter so stated."
  2. (2) After the said paragraph (j) the following paragraph shall be inserted: "(k) Where the proceedings are proceedings against an officer or soldier on a charge of being a deserter or absentee without leave and the officer or soldier has been delivered into military custody by a police officer in charge of a police station in the United Kingdom, a certificate purporting to be signed by such police officer, and stating the fact date and place of the surrender of the officer or soldier shall be evidence of the matters so stated."

Mr. MACPHERSON

I beg to move, in. Sub-section (1), to leave out the words "or has been apprehended by."

This is an Amendment which will, I am sure, meet the general views of the House.

Amendment agreed to.

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

Schedule agreed to.