the Colony. In many cases complete destruction had taken place and barren sites thus created, often encumbered with squatters' huts or insanitary accumulations of rubbish, have become a danger to health. In order to assist and accelerate the clearance and re-development of such sites the War Damaged Sites Ordinance was enacted in
in 1949. The Ordinance lays down a standard procedure for the carrying out of site clearance and shortens the period which must elapse before a power of sale can be exercised in the case of an owner who is unwilling or unable himself to effect the desired improvements. Under the Ordinance the Director of Public Works has wide discretionary powers. For example, he may declare a site to be a war damaged site whereupon the owner may be required to state what he intends to do with regard to clearance of the site. Further the Director of Public Works may enter upon a war damaged site and carry out the work of clearance. In that event the cost of clearance becomes a first charge on the property. In certain circum- stances the Crown has the right to re-enter in accordance with the provision in the lease and, after notification in the Gazette of an intention so to do, may sell the land by public auction. Provision is made in the Ordinance for appeal to the Governor in Council by any person who considers that his is a case of hardship or that a discretion under the Ordinance has been unfairly or unwisely exercised. The ordinary rights of recourse to the Supreme Court are also explicitly reserved.
The modern tendency to organise strikes in order to achieve a political objective rather than in furtherance of a genuine trade dispute, rendered desirable the enactment of the Illegal Strikes and Lockouts Ordinance, 1949. Under this Ordinance a strike or lockout having an objective other than the furtherance of a trade dispute and being designed to coerce the Government or community, is rendered illegal.
Having regard to the possibility of the maintenance of law and order in the Colony being endangered by external influence, it was considered necessary to legislate so as to require the registration of all societies in the Colony with a view to securing knowledge of the objects and some measure of control of such societies. In order to achieve this purpose the Societies Ordinance, 1949, was enacted. The Ordinance requires that all societies coming within the definition of local societies shall apply to the Registrar of Societies for registra- tion. The Registrar may register or refuse to register or exempt any society so applying. He is obliged to refuse registration of any local society which is affiliated connected with any political organisation established outside the Colony. The Ordinance gives a right of appeal to the Governor in Council against a refusal by the Registrar to register a society.
or
}
87