§ Mr. Thorpeasked the Attorney-General whether he is satisfied that adequate penalties exist to deal with misrepresentations, whether innocent or otherwise, by marketing boards in tendering evidence to committees of inquiry set up under the Agricultural Marketing Acts; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralIf, in any case where the Chairman of a Committee of Investigation has elected to take evidence on oath or affirmation, any Board representative makes a statement on oath or affirmation which is material to a proceeding of that Committee and which he knows to be false or does not believe to be true, he will render himself liable on conviction of perjury to seven years' imprisonment, or a fine, or both. I consider this penalty adequate. There is no penalty for innocent misrepresentation in this context, and I do not consider that there should be.