(1) Section 67 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion after subsection (1) of the following subsections:
"(1A) Subject to subsection (1B) of this section, the Court shall not investigate a trade dispute unless -
(a) it receives a report made by an industrial relations officer who has acted as mediator in the dispute stating that the parties to the dispute have failed to arrive at a settlement of the dispute through conciliation, and
(b) the parties to the dispute have requested it to investigate the dispute.
(1B) Where the Court is of opinion, in relation to a trade dispute which, but for this subsection, it would be precluded, by virtue of subsection (1A) of this section, from investigating, that there are exceptional circumstances which warrant its so doing, it may investigate the dispute."
(2) The amendment effected by subsection (1) of this section shall not apply in relation to an investigation of a trade dispute by the Court instituted by it before the passi