§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (The Earl of DONOUGHMORE)My Lords, this Bill is exactly the same as the Bill which passed through all its stages in your Lordships' House last year, and therefore I do not propose to explain it at any length. The case for the Bill is this. Eleven years ago legislation was passed carrying certain penalties for wrongful use of the King's uniform. We wish to apply the same conditions to the wrongful wearing of medals. We have had cases of men wearing medals to which they were not entitled and using them as a means of obtaining employment, and we propose a penalty for such an offence. I beg to move the Second Reading of the Bill.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Earl of Donoughmore.)
LORD MUSKERRYMy Lords, I desire to say a word or two before this Bill is road a second time. The Bill only refers to medals granted to members of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces. His Majesty was graciously pleased to grant a medal to the officers of the merchant service, in recognition of the valuable work done by them during the South African War, and I would ask my noble friend the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he could not see his way, when the Bill goes into Committee, to insert an Amendment which would include the medals of officers of the merchant service. Some of those officers have the ordinary war medals which, I believe, are covered by this Bill, but the special transport medal granted to them is not so covered. I trust that my noble friend will prepare an Amendment meeting this point before the Committee stage is taken.
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.