§ 1000. Interpretation of chapter. 1. The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes hereof, and the enumeration of specific powers in this chapter shall not operate to detract from the meaning of any general grant of power contained in this chapter or to exclude other powers comprehended in such general grant of power.

2. The provisions of this chapter in so far as they are substantially the same as the existing law on December thirty-first, nineteen hundred fifty, shall be construed as a continuation of the provisions of the former county law and not as new enactments.

3. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this chapter shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.