73. Registration of federation of trade unions.

(1) Every federation of trade unions established after the commencement of this Act shall apply to be registered within one month from the date on which it was so established.

(2) Every application for registration under this section shall be signed by the secretary and by seven members of each and every registered trade union forming or creating such federation.

(3) Upon receipt of any such application the Director General shall, if satisfied that this section and section 72 have been complied with and that the federation is entitled to registration, register the federation.

(4) The Director General may, if he thinks fit, form time to time, grant an extension of the period specified in subsection (1), provided that no such period shall in any particular case, be so extended as to exceed a period of six months in the aggregate.

(5) For the purposes of this section—

(a) a federation of trade unions shall be deemed to have been established before the commencement of this Part if resolutions agreeing to form or create such federation have been passed substantially in the manner provided by section 72 by at least two registered trade unions before the date of such commencement;

(b) a federation of trade unions established after the commencement of this Act shall be deemed to be established on the date on which resolutions are passed in the manner hereinbefore provided by at least two registered trade unions agreeing to form or create such federation:

Provided that, in the event of the resolutions being passed on different dates, the date of the establishment of such federation shall be deemed to be the date of the passing of the second of such resolutions.