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imprisonment, any person who is a member of or attending meeting or helping the said Society in any way will be liable to a fine of $500, and imprisonment not exceeding six months or to both fine and imprisonment.
Section 2 declares all meetings of any of the said Societies unlawful.
Section 3 gives authority to any Magistrate or Justice of the Peace to enter or to order any Police Officer with or without assistance to enter any dwelling house in which he may have reasonable ground to believe that an unlawful meeting is being held and to arrest or cause to be arrested all persons found attending such meeting and to search for books, papers, flags, insignia, etc.
Article 44 provides that all persons or articles so arrested or seized may be detained in custody till they can conveniently be brought before a Magistrate.
Section 6 provides that if at any meeting or assembly any promise be tendered or if copies of any Rules, Regulations, Lists of names of members or any flags, banners, or insignia be found, the finding of such articles and the tendering of such oath or promise shall be prima facie evidence that such meeting is unlawful. I would suggest that this Section be referred to the Police or to someone conversant with the proceedings at such meetings who will be able to state whether such section is workable, and whether regard being had to what takes place at such meetings a conviction could be obtained on the Section framed as it is, or whether it is necessary to enlarge the list of facts which constitute prima facie evidence of an unlawful meeting. I would make the same suggestion as to the evidence required to prove the fact of membership. Section 7 punishes with a fine not exceeding $100 or imprisonment with or without hard labour not exceeding 6 months any person attending such...