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Explanatory Memorandum
This Bill amends the Labour Tribunal Ordinance in three main respects—
(a) to provide that leave to appeal must be obtained as a prerequisite to an appeal against an award, order or determination by a presiding officer;
(b) to empower a presiding officer to punish for contempt;
and
(c) to put the Ordinance on a permanent footing.
The other amendments are consequential upon the above amend-
ments.
Clause 2 amends section 31 of the Ordinance as a consequence of the new provisions regarding applications for leave to appeal.
The new section 32 in clause 3 and new section 33 in clause 4 provide for the obtaining of leave to appeal from the District Court. Application for leave to appeal must be made to the District Court in the prescribed form within 7 days after the decision against which an appeal is sought. A refusal by the District Court to grant leave is final.
The amendments in clauses 5 and 6 restate and clarify the present provisions of the Ordinance.
The new section 37 in clause 7 reproduces section 37 of the Ordinance with the alterations necessary consequent upon the new provisions regarding applications for leave to appeal.
The new section 42 in clause 8 empowers a presiding officer to punish summarily persons for insulting behaviour and other types of contempt before the tribunal.
Clause 9 makes a minor amendment to section 45 of the Ordinance.
The new section 45A in clause 10 gives a presiding officer the necessary powers to enforce the payment of any fine or to give effect to any sentence of imprisonment imposed by him.
Clause 11 repeals section 47 of the Ordinance which provides that the Ordinance will expire on the 31st December 1975. The effect of the repeal is to keep the Ordinance in force indefinitely.
J. W. D. HOBLEY,
Attorney General.
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