PRE-WAR PRACTICES ACT, 1919 411 
the trade union or federation of trade unions, or of the federation or 
association of employers, to which he belongs. 
(4) If an agreement has been entered into providing for the modifica- 
tion of an obligation under this Act, to which the owner of an establish- 
ment is a party, or to which any group or association of employers of 
which the owner is a member is a party, it shall be a good defence in 
any proceedings against him in respect of an alleged breach of his 
obligation if he proves that the breach is authorised by the agreement, 
and that the trade union whose custom it was before the war to maintain 
the trade practice to be modified is a party to the agreement or is a 
member of a federation of trade unions who are parties thereto. 
(5) Where, in the case of proceedings against the owner of an establish- 
ment for failure to comply with an obligation imposed by subsection (2) 
of section one of this Act, the tribunal is satisfied that a failure to 
comply with the obligation has occurred, but that it has occurred from 
a genuine and reasonable doubt as to the nature of the trade practice 
to which the obligation relates or otherwise as to the interpretation of 
the obligation, and not from any refusal or unwillingness to comply 
therewith, the tribunal may, instead of imposing any penalty, make an 
order declaring the true interpretation of such obligation in relation to 
the matter or matters complained of, and such an order shall be binding 
on the parties to the proceedings, and a copy thereof shall be registered 
at the Ministry of Labour. 
3.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the provisions of the 
Munitions of War Act, 1915 to 1917, relating to munitions tribunals, shall, 
notwithstanding anything in those Acts limiting the duration thereof, 
continue in force so long as may be necessary for the purposes of this Act. 
(2) The powers of the Minister of Munitions in relation to munitions 
tribunals shall, as from the passing of this Act, be transferred to the 
Minister of Labour : 
Provided that nothing in this provision shall affect any appointment, 
choice of assessors, or rules of procedure (including rules as to appeals) 
made before and in force at the passing of this Act; but anything 
which under the rules of procedure so in force is to or may be done by 
or to the Minister of Munitions shall or may be done by or to the Minister 
of Labour, and those rules shall have effect accordingly. 
4.—(1) The establishments to which this Act applies are establish- 
ments in which munitions work within the meaning of the Munitions of 
War Acts, 1915 to 1917, has during the present war been carried on, and 
any other establishment in which the departure from the practice was 
made in consequence of the two agreements of the nineteenth and twenty- 
(ifth days of March nineteen hundred and fifteen respectively, commonly 
known as the Treasury agreements, or in pursuance of anv other agree- 
ment 1n writine. 
Provisions 
as to 
munitions 
tribunals. 
Establish- 
ments to 
which Act 
\pplies.