Application; Construction. This article as amended is applicable to all applications for licenses filed after the effective date of such amendments, to all transactions or severable portions thereof occurring thereafter and to the keeping of all records pertaining to such transactions or severable portions thereof. All such applications filed prior thereto and all transactions or severable portions thereof occurring prior thereto and the keeping of records pertaining thereto shall be governed by the provisions of this article which were in effect prior to such date. Insofar as the provisions of this article are substantially the same as the provisions of this article as it read prior to said effective date, they shall be construed as restatements and continuations thereof and not as new provisions.