How to Tie Knots in Language

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 48, 26 February 1938, Page 11

How to Tie Knots in Language

LONDON—An example of the complication of language of which the British parliamentary draftsman is capable has come up in the House of Commons. The occasion was a debate on the committee stage of a bill for protecting sea fishing. One section of the bill ran as follows: “If and so long as a determination of any of the matters mentioned in tho preceding sub-section being a determination made with respect to any class of person under provisions of a scheme which are authorized by that sub-section lias effect in relation to any area or any description of white fish, any regulation of the commission under this part of this act which provide for the determination of that matter in relation to that area or hat description o? white fish shall so far as those regulations apply to the same class of person to be of no effect.” One of the M.P.’s present took exception to it as being incomprehensible. But he was c verruled by the Minister in charge on the ground that “there arc some things which are difficult to express in legnl language.” So the section stands.