Page:Railways Act 1921 (ukpga 19210055 en).pdf/15

[Ch. 55.] (3) The amalgamation tribunal shall be a court of record, and have an official seal, which shall be officially and judicially noticed, and may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their number, and two shall be a quorum.

(4) Any commissioner and any person authorised by the amalgamation tribunal may hold such local or other inquiries as appear necessary to the amalgamation tribunal for the ,purpose of the proper execution of their duties under this Act, and before any such inquiry is held the amalgamation tribunal shall give such public' notice as they think best adapted for informing persons affected of the date when and the place where the inquiry will be held.

The provisions of the with respect to—

(a) the administration of oaths and the taking of affirmations ; and

(b) the correction in awards of mistakes and errors ; and

(c) the summoning, attendance, and examination of witnesses and the production of documents; and

(d) the costs of the reference and award;

shall apply in respect of any proceedings before the amalgamation tribunal, and (except with regard to the correction of mistakes and errors in awards) at any inquiry under this section ; but, save as aforesaid, the Arbitration Act, 1889, shall not apply to, proceedings before the amalgamation tribunal or at any inquiry under this section.

(6) The amalgamation tribunal or person. holding an inquiry under this section shall take into consideration all objections to an amalgamation or absorption scheme, or in respect of the subject matter of the inquiry, which may have been. lodged by any class or body of persons within the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner and, where any objections have been so lodged, shall hear any objectors whom the tribunal consider entitled to appear.

(7) The amalgamation tribunal may, and if so ordered by the Court of Appeal or Court of Session shall, state in the form of a special case for determination by the Court of Appeal or Court of Session as the case may require, any question of law which may arise before them, and the decision of the Court of Appeal or Court of Session: shall 11