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which has not been rugistered or which has not been exempted from

and registration will automatically become an unlawful society -

management or membership of any such society will be an offence (clauses 10 and 11).

5.

The Bill, apart from the requirement of compulsory registration, contains in clause 4(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 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 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

considerable 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,

es unavoidable in the best interests of the Colony while serious

political unrest prevails throughout the world.

6.

The Bill by clause 26 empwors the Governor in Council to 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 sociotics 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. GRISTIN

ttomey General.