[1] ExpressioUnius Est Exclusio Alterius: Express/specificmention of one thing implies the exclusion of another person/ thing. INR v Sedgley (1837), when considering IF taxes raised on 'lands, houses and coalmines',it was held that it DID NOT apply to limestone mines as these were not specifically mentioned NOR did thestatute suggest that it wouldapply to other types of mines.
Similarly, in Tempest v Kilner [1846],the Statute of Frauds 1677 requireda contract for the sale of ‘goods, wares and merchandise’ of more than £10 to be evidenced inwriting, the court held thatit DID NOTapply to stocks and shares, as these were NOT followedby any general words, 2] The ejusdem generis rule - of the samekind. For this rule to operate theremust be at least two specific words in a list. This wasillustrated
In Allen v Emmerson [1944], when considering the phrase ‘theatres and other places of amusement’, the court held that as there was only one specific word i.e. ‘theatres’, a funfair DID come under the general term ‘other places of amusement’ even though it was not of the same kind astheatres. In Powell vKempton Park Racecourse[1899]. The court held THAT ‘house, office, room or other place for betting’ had to referto an indoor places. Accordingly, D was not guilty AS HE HAD BEEN operating an open air betting i.e. Tattersall's. [3] Noscitur a sociis: A wordis known by the company it keeps.
In Muir v Keay (1975) D kept his café open to the public duringthe night without a license. Under the Refreshment Houses Act [1860] all houses, rooms,shops or buildings kept open for entertainment during certain hours of the nightmust be licensed. The court held that ‘entertainment’meant other forms of enjoyment, such as drinking coffee late atnight. Therefore, D had committed anoffence under the Act.
Similarly, In IRC v Frere [1965] when considering a statute which referred to ‘interest, annuities or other annual interest’,the court decided that the first use of ‘interest’ must be restricted toannual interest and DID NOTapply to daily of monthly interest