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by any person, firm, or company, he may issue a warrant
authorising any person appointed by a Secretary of State or
the Board of Trade and named in the warrant to inspect all
books or documents belonging to or under the control of that
person, firm, or company, and to require any person able to
give any information with respect to the business or trade of
that person, firm or company, to give that information, and if
accompanied by a constable to enter and search any premises
used in connection with the business or trade, and to seize
any such books or documents as aforesaid :
Provided that when it appears to a Secretary of State or
the Board of Trade that the case is one of great emergency and
that in the interests of the State immediate action is necessary,
a Secretary of State or the Board of Trade may, by written
order, give to a person appointed by him or them the like
authority as may be given by a warrant of a justice under this
subsection.
(2) Where it appears to the Board of Trade—
(а) in the case of a firm, that one of the partners in the
firm was immediately before or at any time since the
commencement of the present war a subject of, or
resident or carrying on business in, a State for the
time being at war with His Majesty ; or
(б) in the case of a company, that one-third or more of
the issued share capital or of the directorate of the
company immediately before or at any time since
the commencement of the present war was held by
or on behalf of or consisted of persons who were
subjects of, or resident or carrying on business in,
a State for the time being at war with His Majesty ;
or
(c) in the case of a person, firm or company, that the person
was or is, or the firm or company were or are, acting
as agent for any person, firm, or company trading
or carrying on business in a State for the time being
at war with His Majesty ;
tbe Bo/ird of Trade may, if they think it expedient for the
Purpose of satisfying themselves that the person, firm or com
pany are not trading with the enemy, by written order, give
to a person appointed by them, without any warrant from a
Justice, authority to inspect all books and documents belong-
lI1 g to or under the control of the person, firm or company,
a Ud to require any person able to give information with respect