19. Offences by bodies of persons and by servants and agents

Where an offence against this Act or against any regulations made thereunder has been committed by a company, firm, society or other body of persons, any person who at the time of the commission of the offence was a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer or a partner of the company, firm, society or other body of persons or was purporting to act in such capacity shall be deemed to be guilty of that offence unless he proves that the offence was committed without his consent or connivance and that he exercised all such diligence to prevent the commission of such an offence as he ought to have exercised, having regard to the nature of his functions in that capacity and to all the circumstances.