HC Deb 18 November 1918 vol 110 cc3307-8

(1) His Majesty in Council may declare what date is to be treated as the date of the termination of the present War, and the present War shall be treated as having continued to, and as having ended on that date for the purposes of any provision in any Act of Parliament, Order in Council, or Proclamation, referring, expressly or impliedly, and in whatever form of words, to the present War or the present hostilities:

Provided that in the case of any such Act, conferring powers on any Government Department, or any officer of any Government Department, exercisable during the continuance of the present War, if it appears to His Majesty that it is expedient that the powers shall cease before the date so fixed as aforesaid, His Majesty in Council may fix some earlier date for the termination of those powers.

(2) The date so declared shall be fixed with regard to, and shall not be later than, the date of the exchange or deposit of ratifications of the treaty or treaties of peace, or such later date, if any, as may be fixed by the treaty or treaties as the date of the termination of war:

Provided that, notwithstanding anything in this Act, the date declared as aforesaid shall be conclusive for all purposes.

(3) His Majesty in Council may also similarly declare what date is to be treated as the date of the determination of war between His Majesty and any particular State.

The MINISTER of RECONSTRUCTION (Dr. Addison)

I beg to move, in Sub-section (1), after the word "Proclamation," to insert the words and, except where the context otherwise requires, of any provision in any contract, deed or other instrument. It was recommended by Mr. Justice Atkin's Committee that these words should be inserted in order to remove doubt and ambiguity which has arisen in respect to contracts. It was felt generally convenient that these words should be inserted in this place.

Amendment agreed to.

Dr. ADDISON

I beg to move, in Subsection (2), to leave out the words "or such later date, if any, as may be fixed by the treaty or treaties as the date of the termination of the War."

These words as they stand would enable the treaty or treaties to extend the date beyond that fixed as the date for the termination of the War. There is no intention of doing such a thing. One of my hon. Friends on Second Reading said that to me, and, to remove any apprehension, I beg to move the Amendment which is on the Paper in the name of (Mr. Watt).

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendments made:

In Sub-section (2), leave out the word "Act" ["notwithstanding anything in this Act"], and insert instead thereof the word "provision."

At the end of Sub-section (2), insert the words "of this Act."

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 2 (Short Title) ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported; as amended, considered; read the third time, and passed.