This act shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with any of the provisions of this act are, to the extent of such inconsistencies, superseded and shall be deemed inoperative. If any provision of this act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the sections that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are severable.
N.J.S. § 48:23-31