193
its scope and also why the Ordinance is drafted in the present form.
Objects and Reasons.
In 1850 it was recognized by Parliament that the language of Acts of Parliament might conveniently be shortened by enacting once for all statutory interpretations of certain words and expressions which were of frequent occurrence in Acts of Parliament and were usually defined in each of those Acts, and also by enacting certain rules of construction as applicable generally to Acts of Parliament. In that year, as a consequence of this view and in order to give effect to it, the Act 13 & 14 Vict. c. 21, entitled “An Act for shortening the Language used in Acts of Parliament,” (commonly called "Lord Brougham's Act") was passed. In 1889 it was felt that this principle might be carried further, and accordingly by the Interpretation Act, 1889, 13 Vict. Lord Brougham's Act was repealed and fuller and more elaborate provisions were substituted for it.
2. It is believed that most of the Colonial legislatures adopted the provisions of Lord Brougham's Act, and that a considerable number of them have also placed the Act of 1889 on their Statute Books. In this Colony the first Ordinance enacted on the subject was the Interpretation Ordinance, 1867. By this Ordinance a considerable number of words and expressions of frequent occurrence were defined for the purposes of future Ordinances and Rules of Court. The Ordinance also contained provisions relating to the meaning, in Ordinances and Rules of Court, of references to public officers and to the computation of time, of words importing number and gender, and of the words "oath," "swear," and "affidavit." The provisions of Lord Brougham's Act relating to the alteration of Acts in the same session, the citation of Acts, the effect of repeals in certain cases, and the public character of Acts were not embodied in the Ordinance. This omission was remedied to some extent by Ordinance No. 8 of 1895, which contains provisions relating to the effect of repeals,
3. The enactments contained in these two Ordinances are reproduced in the Bill under the headings of "Existing Interpretations" and "Existing Rules of Construction.” The remaining provisions of the Bill are for the most part taken from the Interpretation Act, 1889, while some few are drawn from the Consolidated Statutes of Canada and others from the Interpretation Ordinance, 1891, of British Guiana.
4. It is hoped that the Bill will, if passed into law, materially help in shortening and simplifying the language of Ordinances, Rules of Court, regulations, and by-laws, and also in settling questions of construction in regard thereto.
(Sd.) W. Meigh Goodman,
Attorney General.
193
its scope and also why the Ordinance is drafted in the pre-
sent form.
Objects and Reasons.
In 1850 it was recognized by Parliament that the lan- guage of Acts of Parliament might conveniently be shortened by enacting once for all statutory interpretations of certain words and expressions which were of frequent occurrence in Acts of Parliament and were usually doßned in each of those Acts, and also by enacting certain rules of construe- tion as applicable generally to Acts of Parliament. In that year, as a consequence of this view and in order to give effect to it, the Act 13 & 14 Vict. e. 21, entitled “An Act for shortening the Language used in Acts of Parliament," (commonly called "Lord Brongham's Act") was passed. In 1889 it was felt that this principle might be carried further, and accordingly by the Interpretation Act, 1889, 13 Vict. Lord Brougham's Act was repealed and fuller and more elaborate provisions were substituted for it.
c. 63.
2. It is believed that most of the Colonial legislatures adopted the provisions of Lord Brougham's Act, and that a considerable number of them have also placed the Aer of 1889 on their Statute Books. In this Colony the first Ordinance enacted on the subject was the Tuterpretation so I of 1867. Ordinace, 1867. By this Ordinance a considerable mama- ber of words and expressions of frequent occurrence were defined for the purposes of future Ordinauces and Rules of Court. The Ordinance also contained provisions relating to the meaning, in Ordinances and Rules of Court, of refer- ences to public officers and to the computation of time, of words inporting number and gender, and of the words "outh," "swear," and "affidavit." The provisions of Lord Brougham's Act relating to the alteration of Acts in the same session, the citation of Acts, the effect of repeals in certain cases, and the public character of Acts were not embodied in the Ordinance. This omission was remedied to some extent by Ordinance No. 8 of 1895, which contains provisious relating to the affect of repeals,
3. The enact
reproduced in the
contained in these two Ordinances aro der the headings of Existing Interpretations" and "Existing Rules of Construction,” The remaining provisions of the H are for the most part taken from the Interpretation Act, 1989, while some few are drawn from the Consolidated Staintes of Canada and others from the Interpretation Ordinance, 1891, of British Gniana.
ordiana will
4. It is hoped that the Bill will, it passed iure-law, mate- rially help in shortening and simplifying the language of Ordinances, Rules of Court, regulations, and by-laws, and also in settling questions of construction in regard thereto.
(Su.) W. Meigh Goodman,
Attorney General.
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