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5. The Bill, apart from the requirement of compulsory registration, contains in clause 5 (3) provision, analogous to section 14 of the Trade Unions and Trade Disputes Ordinance, 1948, which is important. That provision empowers the Registrar of Societies to refuse registration of any local society which is affiliated or connected with any political organisation established outside the Colony. Thus upon enactment of the Bill that provision will apply to prohibit the existence and operation in the Colony of any local society (as defined) of the category above described and notwithstanding that it may be in existence and in active operation in the Colony at the present time. Such prohibition would mark an innovation in the Colony wherein consider- able latitude has long been afforded towards the existence and operation of "societies" of every kind. But a change of attitude, as regards societies, having outside political connection, is regarded as unavoidable in the best interests of the Colony while serious political unrest prevails throughout the world.
6.
The Bill by clause 26 empowers the Governor in Council to make rules for the purposes therein mentioned and by clause 26(3) rules are in fact made which appear as a Schedule to the Bill providing the machinery necessary for the registration of societies which the Bill upon enactment will require. Clause 27 restricts the duration of the Bill, upon enactment, until the 31st December, 1950, but empowers its continuance in force beyond that date by resolution of Legislative Council.
J. B. GRIFFIN,
Attorney General.
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