(1) Except so far as the contrary intention appears, a provision of this Act is to be interpreted in such a manner that any 2 or more references in the provision are capable of having the same referent or referents, or of having a referent or referents in common, as the case requires. (2) In subsection (1), referent , in relation to a reference in a provision, means:

(a)

in so far as the reference is interpreted as being in the singular number—a person to whom, or a thing or matter to which; or

(b)

in so far as the reference is interpreted as being in the plural number—any one or 2 or more persons to whom, or of 2 or more things or matters to which;