the-ordinances-of-the-legislative-counci-1890v2 — Page 279

869
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WITNESSES. [ 26 of 1886. ]

No. 26 OF 1886.

An Ordinance entitled An Ordinance for enabling the
Legislative Council and any Committee thereof to compel
the attendance of and to administer Oaths to Witnesses.
[ 14th December, 1886.]


1. This ordinance may be cited for all purposes as “ The Short title:.
( 34 & 35 V. c .
Legislative Council Witnesses Ordinance, 1886. 83 , s. 4.]
2. The Legislative Council of the Colony and any committee Examination
thereof may administer an oath to any witness examined before of witnesses
such Council or committee and for that purpose shall have all [34 & 35 V. c.
such and the like powers, rights, and privileges, as are now $3, $ 1.]]
possessed or exerciseable by the House of Commons of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland or any committee
thereof, in respect of,---
( a. ) The enforcing the attendance of witnesses.
( 6. ) The punishing persons guilty of contempt.
3. Any person examined as aforesaid , who wilfully gives Pulse
false evidence, shall be liable to the penalties of perjury; Any $34
(
38. v.c.
&& 35 V
witness to be esamined under this ordinance who, being a 83, s. 2.]
Christian, conscientiously objects to take an oath, may make
his solemn affirmation and declaration in the words following : -
“ I, A. B., do solemnly, sincerely, and truly affirm and
>

declare that the taking of any oath is according to my
religious belief unlawful and I do also solemnly,
sincerely, and truly affirm and declare, & c."
Any witness to be examined under this ordinance who is not Declaration
a Christian, may, in lieu of' an oath make the following declaration in lieu of
which shall be duly interpreted to every such witness ignorant
of the English language. ' I, A. B., do solemnly, sincerely ,
and truly declare that the evidence which I am about to give
shall be the truth , the whole truth , and nothing but the truth .'
Any solemn affirmation and declaration or declaration alone
as aforesaid shall be of the same force and effect and shall entail
the same consequences as an oath taken in the usual form .
Any oath or affirmation and declaration or declaration al
as aforesaid may be administered by the presiding member of
the said Council or any committee thereof.