Where any such employee was in the employ of said city on or before January 1, 1950, and has remained continuously in the employ of said city since that time he shall be deemed to be a permanent employee for the purposes of this article and shall be eligible for membership in such pension fund notwithstanding the provisions of article 2, chapter 13 of Title 43 of the Revised Statutes.

L.1955, c. 189, p. 755, s. 3.