WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

10.36 am.

The Attorney-General (Mr E. P. Shanks): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The purpose of this Bill is to enable the Official Assignee to continue proceedings commenced under the former Workmen's Compensation Ordinance, which was repealed by the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance, 1954. The repeal of the former Ordinance does not affect proceedings instituted under it, or any right, privilege, obligation or liability subsisting thereunder, and the Interpretation of General Clauses Ordinance provides that such proceedings may be continued as though the repealing Ordinance had not been passed.

The Commissioner for Workmen's Compensation appointed under the now repealed Ordinance was appointed by name and not by office. He has now retired from the Government service and, it not being possible to make any further appointment under the now repealed Ordinance, it is necessary to make some other provision for the continuation of proceedings under that Ordinance. This Bill is designed to give the Official Assignee power to deal with such proceedings and, for that purpose, to have all the powers of the Commissioner for Workmen's Compensation under the repealed Ordinance.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly.

Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. [Mr Shanks]

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read the Third time and passed.