16Disregard of certain interruptions in prescriptive claims to rights of common
(1)Where during any period a right of common claimed over any land was not exercised, but during the whole or part of that period either—
(a)the land was requisitioned ; or
(b)where the right claimed is a right to graze animals, the right could not be or was not exercised for reasons of animal health;
that period or part shall be left out of account, both—
(i)in determining for the purposes of the [1832 c. 71.] Prescription Act 1832 whether there was an interruption within the meaning of that Act of the actual enjoyment of the right; and
(ii)in computing the period of thirty or sixty years mentioned in section 1 of that Act.
(2)For the purposes of the said Act any objection under this Act to the registration of a right of common shall be deemed to be such a suit or action as is referred to in section 4 of that Act.
(3)In this section " requisitioned " means in the possession of a Government department in the exercise or purported exercise of powers conferred by regulations made under the [1939 c. 42.] Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939 or by Part VI of the [1945 c. 43.] Requisitioned Land and War Works Act 1945 ; and in determining in any proceedings any question arising under this section whether any land was requisitioned during any period a document purporting to be a certificate to that effect issued by a Government department shall be admissible in evidence.
(4)Where it is necessary for the purposes of this section to establish that a right to graze animals on any land could not be or was not exercised for reasons of animal health it shall be sufficient to prove either—
(a)that the movement of the animals to that land was prohibited or restricted by or under the [1950 c. 36.] Diseases of Animals Act 1950 or any enactment repealed by that Act; or
(b)that the land was not, but some other land was, approved for grazing under any scheme in force under that Act or any such enactment and the animals were registered, or were undergoing tests with a view to registration, under the scheme.