Friendly Societies Act 1974

The Registry of Friendly Societies

1 The Registry Office

(1) There shall continue to be a Chief Registrar of friendly societies (in this Act called " the Chief Registrar ") and one or more assistant registrars of friendly societies for the central registration area.

(2) The Chief Registrar and assistant registrars of friendly societies for the central registration area shall constitute the central office of the registry of friendly societies.

(3) There shall continue to be an assistant registrar of friendly societies for Scotland (in this Act called the " assistant registrar for Scotland ").

(4) The central office may, with the approval of the Minister for the Civil Service, have attached to it such assistants skilled in the business of an actuary and an accountant as may be required for discharging the duties imposed on the office by this Act.

2 Terms of office, qualifications and status of Chief and assistant registrars

(1) The Chief Registrar shall be a barrister of not less than twelve years' standing or a person who has held the office of assistant registrar for not less than five years.

(2) One at least of the assistant registrars of friendly societies for the central registration area shall be a barrister or solicitor of not less than seven years' standing.

(3) The assistant registrar for Scotland shall be an advocate, writer to the signet or solicitor of not less than seven years standing.

(4) The Chief and every assistant registrar shall be appointed by, and shall hold his office during the pleasure of, the Treasury.

(5) Except in so far as this Act otherwise provides, the assistant registrars shall be subordinate to the Chief Registrar.

3 Salaries and expenses

There shall be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament—

(a) to the Chief and assistant registrars such salaries or other remunerations as the Minister for the Civil Service may allow; and

(b) any expenses which may be incurred for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

4 Registration areas and functions of assistant registrars in those areas

(1) For the purposes of this Act there shall be two registration areas, that is to say,—

(a) the area consisting of England and Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man ; and

(b) Scotland.

(2) Any reference in this Act to the central registration area is a reference to the area specified in subsection (1)(a) above.

(3) Within the registration areas for which they are respectively appointed, the assistant registrars shall exercise all functions and powers given by this Act to the registrar and may also, by the written authority of the Chief Registrar, exercise such of the functions and powers given by this Act to the Chief Registrar as he may delegate to them.

5 Particular functions of assistant registrar for Scotland

(1) Subject to any Treasury regulations, the assistant registrar for Scotland shall—

(a) send to the central office copies of all such documents registered or recorded by him as the Chief Registrar may direct; and

(b) record such documents and matters as may be sent to him for record from the central office and such other documents and matters as are in this Act required to be recorded ; and

(c) circulate and publish, or transmit to or from societies registered in Scotland from or to the central office, such information and documents relating to the purposes of this Act as the Chief Registrar may, with the approval of the Treasury, direct; and

(d) report his proceedings to the Chief Registrar as he may direct.

(2) The assistant registrar for Scotland shall not refuse to record any rules or amendment of rules which have been registered by the central office.

6 Report of the Chief Registrar and publication of information relating to friendly societies

(1) The Chief Registrar shall every year make a report—

(a) of his proceedings and of those of the assistant registrars;

(b) of the principal matters transacted by him and them; and

(c) of the valuations returned to the registrar during the year preceding;

and that report shall be laid before Parliament.

(2) The central office shall, with the approval of the Treasury, collect from the returns under this Act and from other sources and publish and circulate, either generally or in any particular district, or otherwise make known, such information on the subject of statistics of life and sickness and the application thereof to the business of friendly societies, such particulars of their returns and valuations and such other information useful to the members of, or to persons interested in, societies registered or capable of being registered under this Act, as the Chief Registrar may think fit.

Registration of societies and branches

7 Societies which may be registered

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3) below and also to section 9 below, the following societies may be registered under this Act, that is to say,—

(a) societies (in this Act called " friendly societies") for the purpose of providing by voluntary subscriptions of the members, with or without the aid of donations, for any of the purposes specified in Schedule 1 to this Act;

(b) societies (in this Act called " cattle insurance societies ") for the purpose of insurance to any amount against loss of cattle, sheep, lambs, swine, horses, and other animals by death from disease or otherwise;

(c) societies (in this Act called " benevolent societies ") for any benevolent or charitable purpose;

(d) societies (in this Act called "working men's clubs") for purposes of social intercourse, mutual helpfulness, mental and moral improvement and rational recreation;

(e) societies (in this Act called " old people's home societies ") for the purpose of providing homes for the members and others at any age after fifty ;

(f) societies (in this Act called " specially authorised societies ") for any purpose which the Treasury may authorise as a purpose to which the provisions of this Act, or such of them as are specified in the authority, ought to be extended.

(2) A society may not be registered under this Act unless—

(a) the rules of the society contain provisions in respect of the several matters mentioned in Part I of Schedule 2 to this Act and, in the case of a friendly society or cattle insurance society, also contain provisions in respect of the several matters mentioned in Part II of that Schedule; and

(b) the place which under the society's rules is to be the society's registered office is situated in the central registration area or in Scotland ; and

(c) the society consists of at least seven persons.

(3) A friendly society or branch thereof may not be registered under this Act if it contracts with any person for the assurance of an annuity or of a gross sum in excess of the limits in section 64 below.

(4) Where any provisions of this Act are specified in an authority given under paragraph (f) of subsection (1) above, those provisions only shall extend to a society which has been registered as a specially authorised society by virtue of that authority.

8 Registration of societies

(1) An application to register a society under this Act shall be signed by seven members and the secretary of the society and shall be sent to the registrar.

(2) Together with an application under subsection (1) above there shall be sent copies of the rules of the society and a list of the names of the secretary and of every trustee or other officer intended to be authorised to sue and be sued on behalf of the society.

(3) A society shall not be registered under a name identical with that under which any other existing society is registered, or so nearly resembling that name as to be likely, or in any name likely, in the opinion of the registrar, to deceive the members or the public as to its nature or its identity or in any name which in his opinion is otherwise undesirable.

9 Special provisions as to dividing societies and societies assuring annuities

(1) A society which is neither a benevolent society nor a working men's club shall not be disentitled to registration by reason of any rule for, or practice of, dividing any part of the funds thereof, if the rules of the society contain distinct provision for meeting all claims upon the society existing at the time of the division before any such division takes place.

(2) A society assuring a certain annuity shall not be entitled to registration unless the tables of contribution for the assurance, certified by a qualified actuary, are sent to the registrar with the application for registration.

(3) In this Act " qualified actuary " means an actuary having such qualifications as the Chief Registrar may prescribe by regulations made under this section.

10 Societies registered in one registration area carrying on business in another

(1) Subsection (2) below shall have effect where a registered society whose registered office is situated in one of the registration areas for the purposes of this Act carries on, or intends to carry on, business in the other of those areas.

(2) The society shall not be entitled in that other area to any of the privileges of this Act as a registered society until a copy of the registered rules of the society has been sent by the society to, and those rules have been recorded by, the registrar for that other registration area; and any registered amendment of the rules so recorded shall not have effect in that other area until a copy of that amendment has been so sent and the amendment so recorded.

11 Additional requirements for registration of societies with branches

(1) Where a society has branches, the application for registration shall be accompanied by—

(a) a list of all the branches and notice of the place where the registered office of each branch, to which all communications and notices may be addressed, is to be situated;

(b) if any branch is to have trustees or officers authorised to sue and be sued on its behalf, other than the trustees or officers authorised to sue and be sued on behalf of the society, a list of the names of all such trustees or officers, distinguishing the branches for which they are authorised to sue and be sued; and

(c) two copies of all branch rules.

(2) A society having a fund under the control of a central body to which every branch is bound to contribute may be registered as a single society, and where any such society has branches in more than one registration area, section 10 above shall apply to that society.

12 Establishment of new branches

(1) There shall be sent to the registrar, under the hand of the secretary of a registered society,—

(a) notice of the establishment of every new branch of the society;

(b) notice of the place where the registered office of the branch, to which all communications and notices may be addressed, is to be situated ;

(c) if the branch is to have trustees or officers authorised to sue and be sued on its behalf, other than the trustees or officers authorised to sue and be sued on behalf of the society, a list of the names of those trustees or officers; and

(d) two copies of the rules of the branch.

(2) A society shall not be entitled to any of the privileges of this Act as a registered society with respect to a branch until the branch has been registered in the registration area in which the registered office of the branch is to be situated.

13 Registration of branches as societies

(1) A body which has been registered as a branch of a society shall not be registered as a society except on production to the registrar of a certificate, under the hand of the chief secretary or other principal officer of the society of which it was a branch, that the body has wholly seceded or has been expelled from the society.

(2) If the chief secretary or other principal officer of a society—

(a) refuses to grant a certificate under this section, or

(b) fails to do so within three months from the receipt of a request in writing made on behalf of the body in question,

an appeal shall lie to the High Court or, in Scotland, to the Court of Session.

14 Name of seceding or expelled branch

A body which, having been a branch of a society, has wholly seceded or been expelled from that society, shall not thereafter use the name of that society or any name implying that it is a branch thereof, or the number by which it was designated as such a branch.

15 Acknowledgment of registration

(1) On being satisfied that a society or branch has complied with the provisions of this Act as to registration, the registrar shall issue to that society or branch an acknowledgment of registration which, in the case of a society, shall specify the designation thereof according to the classification in section 7 above.

(2) An acknowledgment under subsection (1) above shall be conclusive evidence that the society or branch therein mentioned is duly registered under this Act, unless it is proved that the registration of the society or, in the case of a branch, the society of which it is a branch, has been suspended or cancelled.

16 Appeals from refusal to register

(1) Appeals shall lie from a refusal to register a society or branch as follows:—

(a) if the central office refuse to register a society or branch, the society or branch may appeal to the High Court; and

(b) if the assistant registrar for Scotland refuses to register a society or branch, the society or branch may appeal to the Chief Registrar and, if he refuses, to the Court of Session.

(2) If a refusal to register a society or branch is overruled on appeal, the registrar shall give an acknowledgment of registration under section 15 above to the society or branch.

Provisions as to rules

17 Acknowledgment of registration of rules

An acknowledgment of the registration of a society or branch under section 15 above shall also constitute an acknowledgment, and be conclusive evidence, of the registration of the rules of the society or branch in force at the date of the registration of the society or branch.

18 Registration of amendments of rules of society or branch

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, any amendment of the rules of a society or branch as for the time being registered under this Act shall not be valid until the amendment has been so registered, and for this purpose copies of the amendment, signed by three members and the secretary of the society or of the branch, as the case may be, shall be sent to the registrar.

(2) Subsection (1) above shall not apply to a change in the situation of the registered office of a society or branch, but—

(a) notice of any change in the situation of the registered office of a society or branch shall be sent to the registrar and, in the case of a change in the situation of the registered office of a branch, shall be sent to the registrar through an officer appointed in that behalf by the society of which the branch forms part; and

(b) where notice of such a change is sent to the registrar under paragraph (a) above, he shall register it as an amendment of the rules of the society or branch concerned.

19 Acknowledgment of registration of amendments of rules

On being satisfied that any amendment of the registered rules of a society or branch is not contrary to the provisions of this Act, the registrar shall issue to the society or branch, in respect of that amendment, an acknowledgment of registration which shall be conclusive evidence that the amendment is duly registered.

20 Appeals from refusal to register amendment of rule

(1) Appeals shall lie from a refusal to register an amendment of a rule of a registered society or branch as follows:—

(a) if the central office refuse to register the amendment, the society or branch may appeal to the High Court; and

(b) if the assistant registrar for Scotland refuses to register the amendment, the society or branch may appeal to the Chief Registrar and, if he refuses, to the Court of Session.

(2) If a refusal to register an amendment of a rule is overruled on appeal, the registrar shall give an acknowledgment of registration under section 19 above to the society or branch.

21 Duty to supply copies of rules

Every registered society or branch shall deliver to any person on demand, on payment of a sum not exceeding 10p, a copy of the rules of the society or branch.

22 Rules of certain registered societies to bind members at law

(1) The rules of—

(a) a registered cattle insurance society or branch, and

(b) such specially authorised societies or branches thereof as the Treasury may allow to take the benefit of this section,

shall bind the society or branch and the members thereof, and all persons claiming through them, to the same extent as if each member had subscribed his name and affixed his seal thereto, and as if there were contained in the rules a covenant on the part of himself and his executors or administrators to conform to the rules subject to the provisions of this Act.

(2) All sums of money payable by a member to a society or branch falling within subsection (1) above shall be deemed to be a debt due from the member to the society or branch and shall be recoverable as such in the county court for the district in which the member resides.

(3) In the application of this section to Scotland, in subsection (1) the words " and affixed his seal" shall be omitted, and in subsection (2) for the words " in the county court for the district " there shall be substituted the words " before the sheriff of the sheriffdom ".

23 Special provisions which may be included in rules

(1) The rules of a registered society or branch may provide for the reinsurance, to such extent as may from time to time be approved by a qualified actuary, of risks of any class against which persons are, or are to be, insured by that society or branch.

(2) The rules of a registered society which is a specially authorised society complying with the provisions of subsection (3) below may provide that it may receive deposits and borrow money at interest from its members or from other persons, and upon the registration of such a rule the same shall be valid.

(3) A specially authorised society complies with the provisions of this subsection if it has for its object the creation of funds to be lent out to the members of the society or for their benefit, and has in its rules provisions—

(a) that no part of its funds shall be divided by way of profit, bonus, dividend or otherwise among its members; and

(b) that all money lent to members shall be applied to such purpose as the society or its committee may approve.

Trustees and Officers

24 Trustees of registered societies and branches

(1) Every registered society and branch shall have one or more trustees.

(2) The trustees shall be appointed at a meeting of the society or branch and by a resolution of a majority of the members present and entitled to vote at that meeting.

(3) The society or branch shall send to the registrar a copy of every resolution appointing a trustee, signed by the trustee so appointed and by the secretary of the society or branch.

(4) In the case of the appointment of a trustee of a branch, the copy of the resolution referred to in subsection (3) above shall be sent to the registrar through an officer appointed in that behalf by the society of which the branch forms part.

(5) The same person may not be secretary or treasurer of a registered society or branch and also a trustee of that society or branch.

25 Minors not to hold office

A minor shall not be a member of the committee, or a trustee, manager or treasurer, of a registered society or branch.

26 Proof of appointment of officers and trustees

If any such list as is referred to in section 8(2), section 11(1)(b) or section 12(1)(c) above is signed by every trustee and other officer named in the list, and in the case of the list referred to in section 8(2) by the secretary of the society, and in the case of the list referred to in section 11(1)(b) or 12(1)(c) by the secretary of the branch, then on the registration of the society or branch the list shall be evidence that the persons named in the list have been duly appointed.

27 Certain officers to give security

(1) If the rules of a registered society or branch so require, then before taking upon himself the execution of his office, every officer of the registered society or branch having the receipt or charge of money shall give security in accordance with subsection (2) below, in such sum as the society or branch directs, conditioned for his rendering a just and true account of all sums of money received and paid by him on account of the society or branch at such times as its rules appoint, or as the society or branch or the trustees or committee thereof require him to do, and for the payment by him of all sums due from him to the society or branch.

(2) Where an officer of a registered society is required to give security in accordance with subsection (1) above, he shall do so either—

(a) by becoming bound with one sufficient surety at the least in a bond in that one of the forms set out in Schedule 3 to this Act which is appropriate; or

(b) by giving the security of a guarantee society.

(3) In the application of this section to Scotland, for the reference in subsection (2)(a) above to a surety there shall be substituted a reference to a cautioner.

28 Duty of officers of registered societies and branches to account

(1) Every officer of a registered society or branch having the receipt or charge of money shall—

(a) at such times as he is required to do so by the rules of the society or branch, or

(b) on demand, or

(c) on notice in writing requiring him to do so given or left at his last or usual place of residence,

render an account as may be required by the society or branch, or by the trustees or committee of the society or branch, to be examined and allowed or disallowed by them and shall, on demand or on notice as in paragraph (c) above, pay over all sums of money and deliver all property in his hands or custody to such person as the society or branch, or the committee or the trustees, may appoint.

(2) In case of any neglect or refusal to deliver the account or to pay over the sums of money or to deliver the property in accordance with subsection (1) above, the trustees or authorised officers of the society or branch—

(a) may sue upon any bond or security given under section 27 above; or

(b) may apply to the county court or to a magistrates' court and, notwithstanding anything in section 108 of the [1959 c. 22.] County Courts Act 1959 (appeals on questions of law, etc.), the order of the county court or magistrates' court shall be final and conclusive.

(3) In its application to Scotland, this section shall have effect as if, for subsection (2)(b) above, there were substituted the following:—

“(b) may apply to the sheriff and, notwithstanding anything in section 62 of the [1954 c. 48.] Summary Jurisdiction (Scotland) Act 1954, the order of the sheriff shall be final and conclusive.”.

Accounts, audit and auditors

29 Books of account, etc.

(1) Every registered society and branch shall—

(a) cause to be kept proper books of account with respect to its transactions and its assets and liabilities, and

(b) establish and maintain a satisfactory system of control of its books of account, its cash holdings and all its receipts and remittances.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(a) above, proper books of account shall not be taken to be kept with respect to the matters mentioned in that paragraph unless there are kept such books as are necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the society or branch and to explain its transactions.

(3) Any book of account to be kept by a registered society or branch may be kept either by making entries in bound books or by recording the matters in question in any other manner.

(4) Where any such book of account is not kept by making entries in a bound book but by some other means, the society or branch shall take adequate precautions for guarding against falsification and for facilitating its discovery.

30 General provisions as to accounts and balance sheets

(1) Every revenue account of a registered society or branch shall give a true and fair view—

(a) if it deals with the affairs of the society or branch as a whole, of the income and expenditure of the society or branch as a whole for the period to which the account relates; and

(b) if it deals with a particular business conducted by the society or branch, of the income and expenditure of the society or branch in respect of that business for the period to which the account relates.

(2) Every registered society or branch shall, in respect of each year of account, cause to be prepared either—

(a) a revenue account which deals with the affairs of the society or branch as a whole for that year; or

(b) two or more revenue accounts for that year which deal separately with the particular businesses conducted by the society or branch.

(3) In a case falling within subsection (2)(b) above, without prejudice to the application of subsection (1)(b) above to each revenue account dealing with a particular business conducted by a society or branch, the revenue accounts in question, when considered together, shall give a true and fair view of the income and expenditure of the society or branch as a whole for the year of account to which they relate.

(4) Subject to subsection (5) below, every balance sheet of a registered society or branch shall give a true and fair view, as at the date of the balance sheet, of the state of the affairs of the society or branch.

(5) Subsection (4) above does not apply in the case of—

(a) a registered friendly society or a branch thereof, or

(b) a specially authorised society or branch which, by virtue of a direction in the authority for registering that society or branch, is required to carry out a valuation under section 41 below,

but every balance sheet of a society or branch falling within paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) above shall give a true and fair view, as at the date of the balance sheet, of the assets and current liabilities of the society or branch and the resulting balances of its funds.

(6) A registered society or branch shall not publish any revenue account or balance sheet unless—

(a) it has been previously audited by the auditor or auditors last appointed to audit the accounts and balance sheet of the society or branch; and

(b) it incorporates a report by the auditor or auditors stating whether, in their opinion, it complies with subsection (1), subsection (4) or, as the case may require, subsection (5) above; and

(c) it has been signed by the secretary of the society or branch and by two members of the committee thereof acting on behalf of that committee.

(7) Without prejudice to the provisions of subsection (6) above, a registered society or branch falling within paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of subsection (5) above shall not publish any balance sheet which does not include a statement containing the same particulars as the statement required to be included in the annual return of that society or branch by section 43(5) below.

(8) If in relation to any revenue account, revenue accounts or balance sheet of a registered society or branch, a member of the committee thereof fails to take all reasonable steps to secure compliance—

(a) with subsection (1), subsection (4) or, as the case may require, subsection (5) above, or

(b) in a case falling within subsection (2) (b) above, with subsection (3) above,

he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £400 unless he proves that he had reasonable grounds to believe, and did believe, that a competent and reliable person was charged with the duty of seeing that the relevant provision was complied with and was in a position to discharge that duty.

31 Obligation to appoint auditors

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, every registered society and branch shall, in each year of account, appoint a qualified auditor or qualified auditors to audit its accounts and balance sheet for that year.

(2) Subsection (1) above shall not apply to a society or branch (not being a collecting society or branch thereof) if—

(a) the receipts and payments of that society or branch in respect of the preceding year of account did not, in the aggregate, exceed £5,000 ; and

(b) the number of its members at the end of that year did not exceed 500 ; and

(c) the value of its assets at the end of that year did not, in the aggregate, exceed £5,000.

(3) Without prejudice to subsection (2) above, subsection (1) above shall not apply to a registered branch if—

(a) the conditions specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2) above are satisfied in respect of that branch; and

(b) at the end of the preceding year of account at least 75% of its assets had been transferred to the society of which it is a branch or to another registered branch of that society for the purpose of being invested, in accordance with section 46(2) below, by that society or other branch, and the value of its assets not so transferred did not, in the aggregate, exceed £5,000; and

(c) the society or branch to which the assets were transferred is one to which subsection (1) above applies in the year of account in question.

(4) A registered society or branch to which, by virtue of subsection (2) or subsection (3) above, subsection (1) above does not apply in respect of any year of account is in this Act referred to as an exempt society or, as the case may be, an exempt branch, in respect of that year of account.

(5) Regulations made by the Chief Registrar, with the consent of the Treasury, may—

(a) substitute for any sum or number for the time being specified in subsection (2) above, or for any sum or percentage for the time being specified in subsection (3) above, such sum, number or percentage as may be specified in the regulations ; and

(b) prescribe what receipts and payments of a society shall be taken into account for the purposes of those subsections ;

and any such regulations may make different provision in relation to different cases or different circumstances.

32 Audit of exempt societies and branches

(1) Subject to any direction given by the registrar under subsection (2) below, every registered society or branch which is an exempt society or an exempt branch in respect of the current year of account shall in that year appoint at its option either—

(a) a qualified auditor or qualified auditors, or

(b) two or more persons who are not qualified auditors,

to audit its accounts and balance sheet for that year.

(2) The registrar may give a direction in the case of any particular society or branch which is an exempt society or branch in respect of the current year of account requiring it to appoint a qualified auditor to audit its accounts and balance sheet for that year.

(3) The registrar may give a direction in the case of any particular society or branch which was an exempt society or branch in respect of any year of account before that in which the direction is given and did not appoint a qualified auditor or qualified auditors to audit its accounts and balance sheet for that year—

(a) requiring it to appoint a qualified auditor to audit those accounts and that balance sheet, and

(b) in a case where that society or branch has sent to him its annual return for that year before the date of the direction, requiring it, after its accounts and balance sheet have been audited by a qualified auditor, to send to him within three months from receipt of the direction a further annual return complying with the requirements of this Act (other than the requirement as to the time at which the annual return must be sent).

(4) A failure by a registered society or branch to comply with any direction given by the registrar under this section shall be an offence under this Act.

33 Reappointment and removal of auditors

(1) A qualified auditor appointed to audit the accounts and balance sheet of a registered society or branch for the preceding year of account shall be re-appointed as auditor of the society for the current year of account unless—

(a) a resolution has been passed at a general meeting of the society or branch appointing somebody instead of him or providing expressly that he shall not be reappointed; or

(b) he has given to the society or branch notice in writing of his unwillingness to be reappointed; or

(c) he is ineligible for appointment as auditor of the society or branch for the current year of account; or

(d) he has ceased to act as auditor of the society or branch by reason of death or incapacity.

(2) Where notice is given of an intended resolution to appoint at a general meeting some person or persons in place of a retiring auditor and the resolution cannot be proceeded with at the meeting because of the death or incapacity of that person or persons, or because he or they are ineligible for appointment as auditor or auditors of the society or branch for the current year of account (as the case may be), the retiring auditor shall not be automatically reappointed by virtue of subsection (1) above.

(3) For the purposes of this section, a person is ineligible for appointment as auditor of a registered society or branch for the current year of account if, but only if,—

(a) his appointment in relation to the society or branch is prohibited by section 37 below, or

(b) (in the case of a society or branch which is not an exempt society or branch in respect of that year of account) he is not a qualified auditor at the time when the question of his appointment falls to be considered.

34 Notice of resolutions relating to appointment and removal of auditors

(1) A resolution at a general meeting of a registered society or branch—

(a) appointing another person as auditor in place of a retiring qualified auditor, or

(b) providing expressly that a retiring qualified auditor shall not be reappointed,

shall not be effective unless notice of the intention to move the resolution has been given to the society or branch not less than twenty-eight days before the meeting at which it is moved.

(2) Where notice of the intention to move any such resolution has been given under subsection (1) above to a society or branch which is required by its rules to give notice to its members of the meeting at which the resolution is to be moved, the society or branch shall, if it is practical to do so, give them notice of the resolution at the same time and in the same manner as it gives notice of the meeting.

(3) Where notice of the intention to move any such resolution has been given to a registered society or branch under subsection (1) above, and that society or branch does not give notice of the resolution under subsection (2) above, it shall give notice of the resolution to its members not less than fourteen days before the meeting at which the resolution is to be moved either by advertisement in a newspaper having an appropriate circulation or in any other way allowed by the rules of the society or branch.

(4) Where—

(a) for any of the reasons mentioned in section 33(2) above, an intended resolution to appoint some person or persons in place of a retiring qualified auditor cannot be proceeded with at the meeting, and

(b) by the rules of the registered society or branch an auditor can only be appointed by a resolution passed at a general meeting after notice of the intended resolution has been given to the society or branch before the meeting;

a resolution passed at that meeting reappointing the retiring auditor or appointing an auditor in place of the retiring auditor shall be effective notwithstanding that no notice of that resolution has been given to the society or branch under its rules.

(5) Any provision in this section which requires notice to be given to the members of a society or branch shall be construed, in the case of a meeting of delegates appointed by members, as requiring the notice to be given to the delegates so appointed.

35 Proceedings subsequent to receipt of notice under s. 34

(1) On receipt by a registered society or branch of notice given under section 34(1) above, the society or branch shall forthwith send a copy of the notice to the retiring auditor.

(2) On receipt of a copy of such a notice, the retiring auditor may at any time before the date of the general meeting make representations in writing to the society or branch (not exceeding a reasonable length) with respect to the intended resolution, and, without prejudice to the preceding provision, the retiring auditor may—

(a) notify the society or branch that he intends to make such representations; and

(b) request that notice of his intention, or of any such representations made by him and received by the society or branch before notice of the intended resolution is given to its members, shall be given to members of the society or branch.

(3) Subject to subsection (4) below, a society or branch which receives representations or a notification of intended representations under subsection (2) above before the date when notice of the intended resolution is required by subsection (2) or (as the case may be) subsection (3) of section 34 above to be given to its members shall—

(a) in any notice of the resolution given to its members, state that it has received those representations or that notification (as the case may be),

(b) in any such notice, state that any member may receive on demand made before the date of the general meeting a copy of any representations which have been or may be received by the society or branch before that date, and

(c) send a copy of any representations received by the society or branch before the date of the meeting to any member on demand made before that date;

but without prejudice either to the preceding provisions of this subsection or to his right to be heard orally, the retiring auditor may also require that any representations made by him before the date of the general meeting shall be read out at the meeting.

(4) Copies of any such representations need not be sent out, and the representations need not be read out at the meeting, if, on the application either of the society or branch or of any other person, the High Court is satisfied that the rights conferred by this section are being abused to secure needless publicity fori defamatory matter; and the court may order the costs of the society or branch on an application under this section to be paid, in whole or in part, by the auditor, notwithstanding that he is not a party to the application.

(5) In the application of subsection (4) above to a society or branch registered in Scotland, for the reference to the High; Court there shall be substituted a reference to the Court of Session and for the reference to costs there shall be substituted a reference to expenses.

(6) Any provision in this section which requires notice to be given to the members of a society or branch or confers any right upon a member (as the case may be) shall be construed, in the case of a meeting of delegates appointed by members, as requiring a notice to be given to the delegates so appointed or as conferring the right upon a delegate (as the case may be).

36 Qualified auditors

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, no person shall be a qualified auditor for the purposes of this Act unless he is either a member of one or more of the following bodies, that is to say,—

(a) the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales;

(b) the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland;

(c) the Association of Certified and Corporate Accountants;

(d) the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland ;

(e) any other body of accountants established in the United Kingdom and for the time being recognised for the purposes of section 161(1)(a) of the [1948 c. 38.] Companies Act 1948 by the Secretary of State,

or a person who is for the time being authorised by the Secretary of State under section 161(1)(b) of that Act as being a person with similar qualifications obtained outside the United Kingdom.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, for the purposes of any provision (except subsections (2) and (3) of section 32) of this Act a person who is not a qualified auditor under subsection (1) above shall nevertheless be a qualified auditor in relation to any particular registered society or branch if—

(a) he was on 26th July 1968 an approved auditor appointed by the Treasury under section 30 of the [1896 c. 25.] Friendly Societies Act 1896, and

(b) he audited the accounts and balance sheet of that society or branch for the year of account immediately preceding the year of account comprising that date and for every year of account since the first-mentioned year until the current year of account.

(3) The Chief Registrar may at any time direct that a person who is a qualified auditor in relation to a particular society or branch or particular societies or branches by virtue of subsection (2) above shall cease to be so qualified from the date of that direction.

37 Restrictions on appointment of auditors

(1) None of the following persons may be appointed as auditor of a registered society or branch, that is to say,—

(a) an officer or servant of the society or branch; or

(b) a person who is a partner of, or in the employment of, or who employs, an officer or servant of the society or branch; or

(c) a body corporate.

(2) Nothing in this section shall prevent the appointment as auditor of a registered society or branch of a Scottish firm if none of the partners of the firm is ineligible for appointment as auditor of the society or branch by virtue of subsection (1) above.

(3) Any appointment made by a registered society or branch in contravention of this section shall not be an effective appointment for the purposes of this Act.

(4) References in subsection (1) above to an officer or servant shall be construed as not including an auditor.

38 Auditors' report

(1) The auditors of a registered society or branch shall make a report to the society or branch on the accounts examined by them and on the revenue account or accounts and the balance sheet of the society or branch for the year of account in respect of which they are appointed.

(2) The report shall state whether the revenue account or accounts and the balance sheet for that year comply with the requirements of this Act and whether, in the opinion of the auditors—

(a) the revenue account or accounts give a true and fair view, in accordance with section 30 above, of the income and expenditure of the society or branch as a whole for that year of account and, in the case of each such account which deals with a particular business conducted by the society or branch, a true and fair view in accordance with that section of the income and expenditure of the society or branch in respect of that business for that year; and

(b) the balance sheet gives a true and fair view, in accordance with that section, either of the state of the affairs of the society or branch or of the assets and current liabilities of the society or branch and the resulting balances of its funds (as the case may require) as at the end of that year of account.

(3) Without prejudice to the provisions of subsection (2) above, where the report of the auditors relates to any accounts other than the revenue account or accounts for the year of account in respect of which they are appointed, that report shall state whether those accounts give a true and fair view of any matter to which they relate.

(4) It shall be the duty of the auditors of a registered society or branch, in preparing their report under this section, to carry out such investigations as will enable them to form an opinion as to the following matters, that is to say,—

(a) whether the society or branch has kept proper books of account in accordance with the requirements of section 29(1)(a) above ; and

(b) whether the society or branch has maintained a satisfactory system of control over its transactions in accordance with the requirements of section 29(1)(b) above; and

(c) whether the revenue account or accounts, the other accounts (if any) to which the report relates, and the balance sheet are in agreement with the books of ; account of the society or branch;

and if the auditors are of opinion that the society or branch has failed to comply with paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of section 29(1) above, or if the revenue account or accounts, the other accounts (if any) and the balance sheet are not in agreement with the books of account of the society or branch, the auditors shall state that fact in their report.

(5) If the auditors fail to obtain all the information and explanations which, to the best of their knowledge and belief, are necessary for the purposes of their audit, they shall state that fact in their report.

39 Auditors' right of access to books and to attend and be heard at meetings

(1) Every auditor of a registered society or branch—

(a) shall have a right of access at all times to the books, deeds and accounts of the society or branch and to all other documents relating to its affairs; and

(b) shall be entitled to require from the officers of the society or branch such information and explanations as he thinks necessary for the performance of the duties of the auditors.

(2) The auditors of a registered society or branch shall be entitled—

(a) to attend any general meeting of the society or branch, and to receive all notices of, and other communications relating to, any general meeting which any member of the society or branch is entitled to receive; and

(b) to be heard at any meeting which they attend on any part of the business of the meeting which concerns them as auditors.

40 Remuneration of qualified auditors

(1) Regulations made by the Chief Registrar with the consent of the Treasury under section 10 of the [1968 c. 55.] Friendly and Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1968 may prescribe the maximum rates of remuneration to be paid by registered societies and branches for the audit of their accounts and balance sheets by qualified auditors.

(2) No auditor of a registered society or branch shall ask for, receive, or be entitled to receive, remuneration in excess of the rate prescribed in respect of his services by regulations made by virtue of this section.

Valuations and annual returns

41 Valuations

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, every registered society and branch, once at least in every five years, shall—

(a) cause its assets and liabilities to be valued by a qualified actuary appointed by the society or branch; and

(b) send to the registrar a report on the condition of the society or branch;

and every valuation report shall be made in such form and shall contain such particulars as the Chief Registrar may prescribe.

(2) For the purpose of any such valuation as is referred to in subsection (1) above, the Treasury—

(a) may appoint valuers (in this Act referred to as " public valuers ") who shall be qualified actuaries ; and

(b) may determine the rates of remuneration to be paid by societies and branches for the services of those public valuers.

(3) When a valuation is made under subsection (1) above, the report sent to the registrar under paragraph (b) of that subsection—

(a) shall be signed by the actuary who made the valuation and shall state his address ; and

(b) shall contain an abstract to be made by the actuary of the results of his valuation, together with a statement containing such information with respect to the benefits assured and the contributions receivable by the society or branch, and of its funds and effects, debts and credits, as the registrar may require.

(4) Subsection (1) above shall not apply—

(a) to a benevolent society, working men's club, old people's home society, cattle insurance society or to a branch of any such society or club ; or

(b) to a specially authorised society or branch unless it is so directed in the authority for registering that society or branch.

(5) The Chief Registrar may dispense with the provisions of subsection (1) above in respect of societies or branches to whose purposes, or to the nature of whose operations, he may deem those provisions inapplicable.

(6) The Chief Registrar may dispense with the provisions of subsection (1) above in respect of any particular business conducted by a registered society or branch if, in his opinion, those provisions are inapplicable to that business because of the nature of the business or the manner in which it is conducted, and in relation to any such society or branch on which a partial exemption is conferred under this subsection, subsection (1) above shall have effect (subject to any regulations made or direction given under section 42 below) as if—

(a) it required that society or branch once at least in every five years to cause its assets and liabilities in respect; of any business other than the business to which the partial exemption relates to be valued under this section; and

(b) the report required to be sent to the registrar under subsection (1) above were a report on the assets and liabilities so valued.

42 Regulations and directions of Chief Registrar relating to valuations

(1) The Chief Registrar may by regulations provide that in relation to any registered society or branch of a class specified in the regulations, section 41 above shall have effect as if for the period of five years specified in subsection (1) of that section there were substituted a period of three years.

(2) The Chief Registrar may by regulations provide that in relation to any registered society or branch of a class specified in the regulations, section 41 above shall have effect as if it required the society or branch—

(a) to cause its assets and liabilities in respect of any business of a class so specified to be valued under that section and to send to the registrar a report of those assets and liabilities at least once in every three years; and

(b) to cause its assets and liabilities in respect of any other business (other than business to which a partial exemption under subsection (6) of section 41 above relates) to be so valued and to send to the registrar a report on those assets and liabilities at least once in every five years.

(3) The Chief Registrar may by regulations provide that very society or branch of a class specified in the regulations which is or was first registered under this Act or under the friendly Societies Act 1896 after 25th July 1968 shall cause its assets and liabilities to be valued for the first time under section 41 above as at a date so specified.

(4) Without prejudice to the preceding provisions of this section, if in the opinion of the Chief Registrar it is expedient in the interests of the members of any particular registered society or branch to do so, he may direct that, in relation to that society or branch, section 41 above shall have effect—

(a) as if for the period of five years specified in subsection (1) of that section there were specified a period of three years; or

(b) as if it required that society or branch—

(i) to cause its assets and liabilities in respect of any particular business specified in the direction to be valued under that section and to send to the registrar a report on those assets and liabilities at least once in every three years ; and

(ii) to cause its assets and liabilities in respect of any other business (other than business to which a partial exemption under subsection (6) of that section relates) to be so valued and to send to the registrar a report on those assets and liabilities at least once in every five years.

(5) The Chief Registrar may at any time revoke a direction given by him under subsection (4) above.

(6) Any power to make regulations under this section may be exercised so as to make different provision in relation to different cases or different circumstances to which the power is applicable.

43 Annual return

(1) Every registered society and branch shall once in every year, not later than 31st May, send to the registrar a return (in this Act called an "annual return") relating to it affairs for the year of account preceding that in which the return is required to be sent.

(2) In the case of a branch, the annual return shall be sent to the registrar through an officer appointed in that behalf by the society of which the branch forms part.

(3) Every annual return of a registered society or branch—

(a) shall be made up for the year of account to which the return relates; and

(b) shall contain the revenue account or accounts of the society or branch prepared in accordance with section 30(2) above in respect of the year of account to which the return relates and a balance sheet as at the end of that year; and

(c) shall not contain any accounts other than the revenue account or accounts for that year unless those other accounts have been examined by the auditors of the society or branch under section 38 above.

(4) Together with every annual return, a registered society or branch shall send a copy of the report of the auditors on the accounts and balance sheet contained in the return.

(5) Every annual return sent to the registrar by a registered society or branch to which section 41(1) above applies shall include a statement specifying either—

(a) in the case of a society or branch on which no exemption from the provisions of subsection (1) of section 41 above has been conferred, either under subsection (5) or subsection (6) of that section, the date of the last report under that section on the condition of the society or branch or the dates respectively of the last reports under that section on the assets and liabilities of the society or branch in respect of particular businesses conducted by it, and a place where a copy of that report or copies of those reports (as the case may be) may be inspected ; or

(b) in the case of a society or branch on which a complete exemption from the provisions of section 41 above has been conferred under subsection (5) of that section, the reason for that exemption ; or

(c) in the case of a society or branch on which a partial exemption from the provisions of section 41 above has been conferred under subsection (6) of that section, the reason for that partial exemption and the date of the last report, or the dates respectively of the last reports, under that section on the assets and liabilities of the society or branch in respect of any business or businesses conducted by it, and a place where a copy of that report or copies of those reports (as the case may be) may be inspected.

(6) Without prejudice to subsection (3) above, every annual or other return required for the purposes of this Act shall be made in such form and shall contain such particulars as the Chief Registrar may prescribe.

44 Copies of annual return to be supplied on demand

(1) On the application of a member or person interested in its funds a registered society or branch shall supply to him gratuitously either—

(a) a copy of the last annual return of the society or branch ; or

(b) a balance sheet or other document duly audited containing the same particulars relating to the affairs of the society or branch as are contained in the annual return.

(2) Together with every copy of an annual return supplied in accordance with paragraph (a) of subsection (1) above and together with every balance sheet or other document supplied in accordance with paragraph (b) of that subsection, a registered society or branch shall provide a copy of the report of the auditors on the accounts and balance sheet contained in the return or on the balance sheet or document supplied, as the case may require.

45 Copies of balance sheet and valuation to be displayed

Every registered society and branch shall keep always hung up in a conspicuous place at the registered office of the society or branch—

(a) a copy of the last annual balance sheet together with the report of the auditors thereon; and

(b) a copy of the last report under section 41 above on the condition of the society or branch or, where a report or reports are required under that section in respect of a particular business or particular businesses conducted by the society or branch, a copy of the last report under that section in respect of that business or in respect of each of those businesses, as the case may require.

Investment, funds and property

46 Investment of funds

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, the trustees of a registered society or branch may, with the consent of the committee or of a majority of the members present and entitled to vote in general meeting, invest the funds of the society or branch or any part thereof, to any amount in any of the following ways, that is to say,—

(a) in the National Savings Bank or in any savings bank certified under the [1863 c. 87.] Trustee Savings Banks Act 1863, the [1954 c. 63.] Trustee Savings Banks Act 1954 or the [1969 c. 50.] Trustee Savings Banks Act 1969 ; or

(b) in the public funds ; or

(c) in the purchase of land, or in the erection or alteration of offices or other buildings thereon; or

(d) upon any other security expressly directed by the rules of the society or branch, other than personal security, except as is in this Act authorised with respect to loans; or

(e) in any investment in which trustees are for the time being by law authorised to invest trust funds.

(2) The rules of a society with branches and of any branch thereof may provide for the investment of funds of the society or of that branch by the trustees of any branch, or by the trustees of the society, and the consent required for any such investment shall be the consent of the committee, or of such a majority of the members as is mentioned in subsection (1) above, of the society or branch by whom the funds are invested.

(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed as imposing any obligation on the Director of Savings or on the trustees of a trustee savings bank with respect to the receipt by him or them of any funds of a registered society or branch.

47 Power to set up funds for purchase of Government securities on behalf of members

(1) A registered society or branch may in accordance with its rules set up and administer a fund for the purchase, on behalf of members contributing thereto, of Defence Bonds or National Savings Certificates or such other securities of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom as the Chief Registrar may prescribe.

(2) A registered society or branch may, in amending its rules for the purpose of this section, make provision for enabling persons to become members of the society for the purpose only of contributing to the said fund and without being entitled to any rights as members other than rights as contributors to the said fund.

(3) To facilitate the amendment for the purpose of this section of the rules of a registered society or branch existing on 25th April 1940, the Chief Registrar—

(a) may prescribe forms of rules which may be adopted for that purpose, and

(b) if requested to do so by the committee of any such society or branch existing at that date, may register a rule of that society or branch in such of the prescribed forms as may be indicated in the request;

and any rule so registered shall have effect as if it had been duly passed by the society or branch.

(4) Anything which is required or authorised to be done by or to the Chief Registrar under this section may be done by or to such person as he may appoint for the purpose.

48 Loans to assured members

(1) A registered society and, subject to the rules of the society of which it is a branch, a registered branch may advance to a member of at least one full year's standing any sum not exceeding one-half of the amount of an assurance on his life, on the written security of himself and two satisfactory sureties or, in Scotland, cautioners for repayment.

(2) The amount so advanced, with all interest thereon, may be deducted from the sum assured, without prejudice in the meantime to the operation of the security.

49 Loans out of separate loan fund

A registered society may, out of any separate loan fund to be formed by contributions or deposits from its members, make loans to members on their personal security, with or without sureties or, in Scotland, cautioners, as may be provided by the rules, subject to the following restrictions, that is to say,—

(a) a loan shall not at any time be made out of money contributed for the other purposes of the society;

(b) a member shall not be capable of holding any interest in the loan fund exceeding £200 ;

(c) the society shall not make any loan to a member on personal security beyond the amount fixed by the rules, or make any loan which, together with any money owing by a member to the society, exceeds £50; and

(d) the society shall not hold at any one time on deposit from its members any money beyond the amount fixed by the rules, and the amount so fixed shall not exceed two-thirds of the total sums owing to the society by the members who have borrowed from the loan fund.

50 Loans of surplus funds to registered society or branch of different description

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section and of section 51 below, a registered society or branch (other than a benevolent society or branch thereof) may, if its rules so provide, make advances by way of loan to a registered society or registered branch of a society which is not of the same description and may take such part in the government and control of the society or branch to which any such advance is made or agreed to be made as may be provided by the rules of that society or branch.

(2) An advance shall not be made by a society or branch by virtue of this section unless the value of its assets showed a surplus over the amount of its liabilities according to the last valuation under section 41 above or, in the case of a society or branch of which the assets and liabilities are not valued under that section, according to its last annual return under section 43 above ; and—

(a) no advance shall be so made to an amount greater, with any amounts outstanding in respect of previous advances so made, than the amount for the time being unapplied of that surplus ;

(b) for any purpose other than the purposes of paragraph (a) above, in determining the amount so unapplied there shall be deducted any amounts outstanding in respect of advances so made after the date to which the valuation or return relates.

(3) An advance under this section may be interest free.

(4) Nothing in this section shall be taken to prejudice the power of a registered society or branch under section 52(2) below to contribute to the funds and take part in the management of another registered society or branch of the same description.

(5) For the purposes of this section a society or branch shall be deemed to be of the same description as another society or branch if, but only if, they are both registered by virtue of the same paragraph of section 7(1) above and, where each of them is a specially authorised society or branch, they are both established for the same purpose or purposes.

51 Power of friendly society to invest in housing association

(1) Without prejudice to section 46 above, if the rules of a registered friendly society or branch thereof expressly so direct, the trustees thereof may, with the consent of the committee or of a majority of the members present and entitled to vote in general meeting, invest the funds of the society or branch or any part thereof, in subscribing up to any amount permitted by this section for any of the share or loan capital of a housing association, other than shares or debentures not fully paid up at the time of issue.

(2) The power to make investments conferred by this section is subject to the same restrictions as are imposed by section 50(2) above on the power to make advances conferred by that section.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) of section 50 above any amounts for the time being invested by virtue of this section shall be taken into account in the same way as amounts outstanding in respect of advances made by virtue of that section, but so that, except in the case of investments made after the date to which the valuation or return relates, the amounts invested shall be taken to be amounts equal to the value of the investments according to the valuation or return referred to in the said subsection (2).

(4) For the purposes of this section, " housing association " means a housing association within the meaning of the [1957 c. 56.] Housing Act 1957 or the [1966 c. 49.] Housing (Scotland) Act 1966 (but not including a development corporation).

52 Charitable subscriptions and contributions to other registered societies

(1) A registered society or branch may subscribe out of its funds to any hospital, infirmary, charitable or provident institution, any annual or other sum which may be necessary to secure to members of the society or branch and their families the benefits of the hospital, infirmary or other institution.

(2) In accordance with its rules, a registered society or branch may contribute to the funds and take part by delegates or otherwise in the government of any other registered society or registered branch of a society without becoming a branch under this Act of that other society or branch.

(3) A registered society or branch shall not withdraw from contributing to the funds of any medical society, that is to say, a society for the purpose of relief in sickness by providing medical attendance and medicine, except on three months' notice to the society and on payment of all contributions accrued or accruing due to the date of expiry of the notice.

53 Holding of land

(1) A registered society or branch may, if its rules so provide, hold, purchase or take on lease in the names of the trustees of the society or branch any land, and may sell, exchange, mortgage or lease any such land and erect, alter or pull down buildings on it, and

(a) no purchaser, assignee, mortgagee or tenant shall be bound to enquire as to the authority for any sale, exchange, mortgage or lease by the trustees; and

(b) the receipt of the trustees shall be a discharge for all sums of money arising from, or in connection with, any such sale, exchange, mortgage or lease.

(2) A branch of a registered society need not for the purposes of this section be separately registered.

(3) In the application of subsection (1) above to Scotland,—

(a) for the word " exchange " there shall be substituted the word " excamb "or " excambion " as the case may require;

(b) for the word " mortgage ", in the first place where it occurs, there shall be substituted the words " grant a heritable security over " and other references to " mortgage " shall be construed accordingly; and

(c) for the word " mortgagee " there shall be substituted the words " creditor in a heritable security ".

54 Vesting of property in trustees

(1) Subject to section 55 below, all property belonging to a registered society, whether acquired before or after the society is registered, shall vest in the trustees for the time being of the society, for the use and benefit of the society and the members thereof and all persons claiming through the members according to the rules of the society.

(2) The property of a registered branch of a society shall vest wholly or partly in the trustees for the time being of that branch, or of any other branch of which that branch forms part (or, if the rules of the society so provide, in the trustees for the time being of the society), for the use and benefit either of the members of any such branch and persons claiming through those members or of the members of the society generally and persons claiming through them according to the rules of the society.

(3) Notwithstanding anything in subsections (1) and (2) above, the trustees of a registered society or branch shall not be liable to make good any deficiencies in the funds of the society or branch, but each trustee shall be liable only for sums of money actually received by him on account of the society or branch.

55 Power of the Public Trustee to hold securities of certain friendly societies and branches

(1) Notwithstanding anything in section 54 above any part of the funds of a friendly society registered at the central office or of any branch of such a society, and any stocks, shares or securities held by or on behalf of such a society or branch, may be transferred to the Public Trustee if, and only if,—

(a) the Public Trustee agrees to the transfer ; and

(b) rules of the society or branch are, or have been, made for the purpose.

(2) The Public Trustee shall invest, in accordance with the rules, any funds so transferred to him and shall pay the interest on any stocks, shares or securities acquired by or transferred to him in pursuance of this section to the trustees of the society or branch, and shall, if and when the trustees so require, transfer the capital of the stocks, shares or securities to them, or realise the same and transfer the proceeds to them.

(3) The Public Trustee shall be completely exonerated from any liability in relation to any stock, shares or securities, held by him in pursuance of this section, and no action shall lie against the Public Trustee in respect of any such stock, shares or securities provided that he acts in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(4) This section does not extend to Scotland.

56 Legal proceedings concerning property

In all legal proceedings whatsoever concerning any property vested in the trustees of a registered society or branch, the property may be stated to be the property of the trustees in their own names as trustees for the society or branch without further description.

57 Discharge of certain mortgages

(1) Where, in the case of any mortgage or other assurance to a registered society or branch of any property, a receipt in full for all money secured thereby on that property is endorsed on or annexed to the mortgage or other assurance, being a receipt—

(a) signed by the trustees of the society or branch and countersigned by the secretary thereof ; and

(b) in the form set out in Schedule 4 to this Act or in any other form specified in the rules of the society or branch or any schedule thereto,

then, for the purposes of the provisions of section 115 of the [1925 c. 20.] Law of Property Act 1925 (reconveyance of mortgage by endorsed receipt) which are specified in subsection (2) below, that receipt shall be deemed to be a receipt which fulfills the requirements of subsection (1) of that section.

(2) The provisions of section 115 of the Law of Property Act 1925 which are referred to in subsection (1) above are—

(a) subsection (1), so far as it relates to the operation of such a receipt as is mentioned in that subsection ;

(b) if, but only if, the receipt under this section states the name of the person who pays the money, subsection (2);

(c) subsections (3), (6), (8), (10) and (11); and

(d) where consistent with the terms of the form authorised by subsection (1)(b) above which is used for the receipt, subsection (7).

(3) This section extends to England and Wales only.

58 Devolution of property on death, resignation or removal of trustee

On the death, resignation or removal of a trustee of a registered society or branch, all property vested in him as such a trustee shall, without conveyance, assignment or assignation, vest subject to the same trusts in the succeeding trustees of that society or branch, either solely or together with any surviving or continuing trustees; and until the appointment of succeeding trustees that property shall so vest in the surviving or continuing trustees only or in the executors or administrators of the last surviving or continuing trustee.

59 Priority on death, bankruptcy, etc., of officer

(1) The provisions of this section apply in the following cases, that is to say,—

(a) on the death or bankruptcy of any officer of a registered society or branch who has in his possession, by virtue of his office, any money or property belonging to the society or branch; and

(b) if any execution, attachment, or other process is issued, or action or diligence raised against any such officer or against his property.

(2) Where this section applies then, upon demand in writing of the trustees of the society or branch, or of any two of them, or of any person authorised by the society or branch or by the committee thereof to make the demand, the executors or administrators or trustee in bankruptcy or the sheriff or other person executing the process shall pay the money and deliver over the property to the trustees of the society or branch in preference to any other debt or claim against the estate of the officer.

(3) In subsection (1) above " bankruptcy " includes liquidation of a debtor's affairs by arrangement.

(4) In the application of this section to Scotland, for the reference in subsection (1) above to the bankruptcy of any officer there shall be substituted a reference to an award of sequestration being made on any officer's estate or his executing a trust deed for his creditors or his entering into a composition contract, and in subsection (2) above the expression " trustee in bankruptcy " includes a judicial factor.

Membership and rights of members

60 Membership of minors

(1) The rules of a registered society or branch may provide for the admission of minors as members.

(2) A member who is a minor may, if he is over sixteen by himself, and if he is under sixteen by his parent or guardian, execute all instruments and give all receipts necessary to be executed or given under the rules.

61 Members' subscriptions not generally recoverable at law

Except as provided by section 22 above, the subscription of a person who is or has been a member of a registered society or branch shall not be recoverable at law.

62 Inspection of books by members

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, a member or person having an interest in the funds of a registered society or branch may inspect the books at all reasonable hours at the registered office of the society or branch or at any place where the books are kept.

(2) Unless he is an officer of the society or branch or is specially authorised by resolution of the society or branch to do so, a member or person having an interest in the funds of a registered society or branch shall not have the right to inspect the loan account of any other member without the written consent of that member.

63 Accumulation of member's surplus contributions

The rules of a registered society or branch may provide for accumulating at interest, for the use of any member, any surplus of his contributions to the funds of the society or branch which may remain after providing for any assurance in respect of which they are paid and for the withdrawal of the accumulations.

Benefits: limitations and payment

64 Maximum benefits

(1) Subject to section 65 below, a member, or person claiming through a member, of a registered friendly society or branch shall not be entitled to receive from any one or more such societies or branches (taking together all such societies or branches throughout the United Kingdom)—

(a) more than £500 by way of gross sum under tax exempt life or endowment business,

(b) more than £104 a year by way of annuity under tax exempt life or endowment business,

(c) more than £5,000 by way of gross sum under life or endowment business which is not tax exempt, but increasing that limit from £5,000 to £7,250 if the entitlement under this paragraph, so far as it exceeds £5,000, is under any mortgage protection policy or policies,

(d) more than £500 a year by way of annuity under life or endowment business which is not tax exempt.

(2) In applying the limits in this section there shall be disregarded—

(a) any bonus or addition declared upon assurance of a gross sum or annuity,

(b) any approved annuities as defined in section 226(13) of the [1970 c. 10.] Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970 or any policy of insurance or annuity contract by means of which at the date on which it was issued, or, as the case may be, entered into, the minimum benefits of a recognised occupational pension scheme under Part II of the [1973 c. 38.] Social Security Act 1973 were secured, and

(c) any increase in a benefit under a friendly society contract, as defined in section 6 of the [1969 c. 19.] Decimal Currency Act 1969, resulting from the adoption of a scheme prescribed or approved in pursuance of subsection (3) of that section.

(3) The Chief Registrar may by order made with the consent of the Treasury and contained in a statutory instrument, subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament, from time to time increase or further increase all or any of the limits in paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (1) above, and any such order may contain transitional and other supplemental provisions.

(4) Subject to subsection (5) below, the rules of any registered friendly society or branch may within six months from the time when any increase is effected under subsection (3) above be amended by resolution of the committee so as to permit the society or branch to assure additional amounts within the limits prescribed by virtue of that increase.

(5) If, after any increase is effected under subsection (3) above, any amendment of the rules of a friendly society or branch is made otherwise than under subsection (4) above, the power of the committee thereof under subsection (4) above shall determine on the date on which the amendment is registered.

(6) A registered friendly society or branch may require a member, or person claiming through a member, to make and sign a statutory declaration that the total amount to which that member or person is entitled from one or more registered friendly societies or branches (taking together all such societies or branches throughout the United Kingdom) does not exceed the limits applicable by virtue of this section.

(7) In this section references to registered friendly societies or branches throughout the United Kingdom shall be construed as including references to friendly societies or branches registered, or deemed to be registered, in Northern Ireland under any enactment of the Parliament of Northern Ireland or any Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly corresponding, in either case, to this Act.

(8) In this section—

• " life or endowment business " and " tax exempt life or endowment business " have the meanings assigned to them by subsections (2) and (3) respectively of section 337 of the [1970 c. 10.] Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970; and

• " mortgage protection policy " means a policy of assurance of a gross sum, the whole or the major part of which is applicable solely for the purpose of meeting payments due under a mortgage or charge of land.

65 Modification of s. 64 in relation to group insurance business

(1) For the purposes of section 64 above, the limits in paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (1) of that section shall apply separately in relation to the amounts which may be received—

(a) by way of group insurance business; and

(b) by way of other business.

(2) For the purposes of this section " group insurance business " means the business of providing, in accordance with the rules of a registered society, benefits for or in respect of such employees of a particular employer or such other group of persons for the time being approved for the purposes of this section by the registrar as are members of the society ; and such business is approved group insurance business if—

(a) the policy of insurance or other contract under which the benefits are provided for or in respect of each of the employees or other persons concerned is in a form approved by the registrar, and

(b) such other requirements as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Chief Registrar are fulfilled.

66 Power of member to nominate person to receive sums payable on his death

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, a member of a registered society or of a branch thereof who is not under the age of sixteen years may, by writing under his hand delivered at or sent to the registered office of the society or branch, or made in a book kept at that office, nominate a person or persons to whom any sum of money payable by the society or branch on the death of that member or any specified amount of money so payable shall be paid at his decease.

(2) The total amount which may be nominated under this section shall not exceed £500, but where a nomination under this section does not specify the maximum sum of money which is to be payable by virtue of the nomination, and the sum to which the nomination relates exceeds £500 but would not exceed that amount if any such increase as is mentioned in section 64(2)(c) above were disregarded, the nomination shall not be invalidated by reason only of the excess.

(3) The sum payable on the death of a member by a registered society or branch shall include sums of money contributed to or deposited in the separate loan fund and any sum of money accumulated for the use of the member under the provisions of this Act, together with interest thereon.

(4) Any reference in subsections (1) to (3) above to a registered society does not include a benevolent society, a working men's club or an old people's home society.

(5) A person nominated under this section must not at the date of the nomination be an officer or servant of the society or branch, unless that officer or servant is the husband, wife, father, mother, child, brother, sister, nephew or niece of the nominator.

(6) A nomination so made may be revoked or varied by any similar document under the hand of the nominator delivered, sent or made as mentioned in subsection (1) above.

(7) The marriage of a member of the society or branch shall operate as a revocation of any nomination previously made by that member under this section.

(8) A nomination, or a variation or revocation of a nomination, by writing under the hand of a member of a registered branch and delivered at or sent to the registered office of that branch, or made in a book kept at that office, shall be effectual notwithstanding that the money to which (the nomination relates, or some part thereof, is not payable by that branch but is payable by the society or some other branch.

67 Payment on death of a nominator

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, on receiving satisfactory proof of the death of a nominator, the society or branch shall pay to his nominee or nominees the amount due to the deceased or, as the case may be, the amount specified in the nomination.

(2) Subject to paragraph 12 of Schedule 10 to this Act, the total amount paid by a registered society or branch by virtue of a nomination (whether in favour of one nominee or more) shall not exceed £500 except that, in the circumstances referred to in subsection (2) of section 66 above, the amount payable shall include the excess referred to in that subsection.

(3) The receipt of a nominee over sixteen years of age for any amount paid in accordance with this section shall be valid.

68 Devolution of sums due where no nomination

(1) If any member of a registered society or branch entitled from the funds thereof to a sum not exceeding £500 dies without having made any nomination thereof then subsisting, the society or branch may, without letters of administration or probate of any will or, in Scotland, without any grant of confirmation, distribute the sum among such persons as appear to the committee, upon such evidence as they may deem satisfactory, to be entitled by law to receive that sum.

(2) If any such member is illegitimate, the society or branch may pay the sum of money which that member might have nominated to or among the persons who, in the opinion of the committee, would have been entitled thereto if that member had been legitimate, or if there are no such persons, the society or branch shall deal with the money as the Treasury may direct.

(3) Where at the time of his death a member of a registered friendly society or branch is entitled from the funds thereof to a sum which exceeds £500 but would not exceed that amount if any such increase as is mentioned in section 64(2)(c) above were disregarded, subsection (1) above shall apply to the whole of that sum, notwithstanding that it exceeds £500, and for the purposes of subsection (2) above the whole of that sum shall be taken to be the sum which he might have nominated.

69 Validity of payments

(1) A payment made by a registered society or branch under section 68 above shall be valid and effectual against any demand made upon the trustees or the society or branch by any other person, but the next of kin or personal representatives of the deceased member shall have a remedy for recovery of the money paid under that section against the person who has received that money.

(2) Where a society or branch has paid money to a nominee in ignorance of a marriage subsequent to the nomination, the receipt of the nominee shall be a valid discharge to the society or branch.

70 Certificates of death

(1) Subject to paragraph 1 of Schedule 5 to this Act and paragraph 5 of Schedule 6 thereto, a registered society or branch shall not pay any sum of money upon the death of a member or other person whose death is, or ought to be, entered in any register of deaths, except upon the production—

(a) of a certificate of that death under the hand of the registrar of deaths or other person having care of the register of deaths in which that death is or ought to be entered; or

(b) of the grant of probate of the will of the member or other person or of letters of administration to his estate or of a certificate of confirmation to his estate.

(2) This section does not apply to deaths at sea, nor to a death by colliery explosion or other accident where the body cannot be found, nor to any death certified by a coroner or procurator fiscal to be the subject of a pending inquest or inquiry.

71 Prohibition of insuring money to be paid on death of a child under ten

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, a registered society or branch shall not insure so as to render any sum payable under the insurance on the death of any person at any time before he or she attains the age of ten years, otherwise than by way of repayment of the whole or any part of the premiums paid.

(2) Subsection (1) above does not apply to a sum payable to another person who has an interest in the life of the person on whose death the sum is payable.

(3) Subsections (1) and (2) above apply to an unregistered society or branch thereof as they apply to a registered society or branch thereof.

(4) Subject to the provisions of any Order in Council under section 7 of the [1948 c. 39.] Industrial Assurance and Friendly Societies Act 1948 (which confers power to extend the application of this section and of certain provisions of that Act originally limited to persons resident in Great Britain), subsection (1) above applies only in the case of a person who, at the time of the proposal, is ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man.

(5) Any society (whether registered or not) or any branch, other than a collecting society or branch thereof, which insures in contravention of subsection (1) above shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100 in the case of a registered society or branch and £50 in any other case.

(6) Any collecting society or branch thereof which insures in contravention of subsection (1) above shall be guilty of an offence under the [1923 c. 8.] Industrial Assurance Act 1923.

(7) This section in its application to collecting societies shall be construed as one with the Industrial Assurance Acts 1923 to 1968.

72 Limitations on insurance of life of parent or grandparent

(1) In effecting an insurance for the purpose referred to in paragraph (2)(d) of Schedule 1 to this Act, a registered friendly society or branch thereof shall not insure to be paid to any person on the death of any one of his parents or grandparents any sum which, either taken alone or when added to any sum or sums for the time being insured to be paid to that person on that death under any other relevant insurance or insurances taken out by him, exceeds £30.

(2) Where an insurance has been effected for the purpose referred to in paragraph (2)(d) of Schedule 1 to this Act then, subject to subsection (3) below,—

(a) the society or branch shall not, by virtue of or in connection with that insurance, pay to any person any sum which exceeds £30 when taken alone; and

(b) the society or branch shall not, by virtue of or in connection with that insurance, pay to the person by whom that insurance was taken out any sum which exceeds £30 when added to any sum or sums paid to him, on the death on which money was thereby insured to be paid, by virtue of or in connection with any other relevant insurance taken out by him; and

(c) if any payment has been made on the death in question by virtue of or in connection with that insurance to the person by whom it was taken out and that payment has not been repaid, the society or branch shall not pay to him on that death, by virtue of or in connection with any other relevant insurance taken out by him, any sum which exceeds £30 when added to the sum so paid and not repaid, or when added to it and to any sum or sums paid to him on that death by virtue of or in connection with any other relevant insurance or insurances taken out by him.

(3) For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2) above there shall be excluded—

(a) any sum insured to be paid, or paid,—

(i) by way of bonus, other than a guaranteed bonus; or

(ii) by way of repayment of premiums ; or

(iii) under a free paid-up policy which was in force as such on 30th June 1948 or had been applied for or claimed before that date; and

(b) so much of any sum insured to be paid, or paid, on the death of any one of a person's parents or grandparents as represents any increase in a benefit payable by the society or branch or by an industrial assurance company under a friendly society or industrial assurance company contract, as those terms are defined in section 6 of the [1969 c. 19.] Decimal Currency Act 1969, resulting from the adoption of a scheme prescribed or approved in pursuance of subsection (3) of that section.

(4) In this section " relevant insurance " means an insurance effected (whether before or after the commencement of this Act) by a registered friendly society or branch or by an industrial assurance company in exercise of any power conferred by—

(a) section 3 of the [1923 c. 8.] Industrial Assurance Act 1923 (which has not been operative since 1949 in the case of insurances on lives of persons resident in the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man);

(b) section 1 of the [1929 c. 28.] Industrial Assurance and Friendly Societies Act 1929 (which after the commencement of this Act is confined to industrial assurance companies but is otherwise similar to paragraph 2 of Schedule 6 to this Act);

(c) section 2(1) of the [1948 c. 39.] Industrial Assurance and Friendly Societies Act 1948 (which after the commencement of this Act is confined to industrial assurance companies but is otherwise similar to paragraph (2)(d) of Schedule 1 to this Act);

(d) paragraph (2)(d) of Schedule 1 to this Act; or

(e) paragraph 2 of Schedule 6 to this Act.

(5) In this section "parent" includes a stepfather and a stepmother and references in this section to a payment on a person's death include references to a payment for his funeral expenses.

73 Supplementary provisions as to insurances referred to in s. 72

(1) The provisions of Schedule 5 to this Act shall have effect with regard to the production of certificates of death in connection with the making of payments relevant for the purposes of section 72 above.

(2) Where under any relevant insurance effected by a registered society or branch money is for the time being insured to be paid to the person by whom the insurance was taken out on the death of a parent or grandparent of his, any assignment or charge made by him of or on all or any of the rights in respect of the insurance conferred on him by the policy, by section 24 of the [1923 c. 8.] Industrial Assurance Act 1923 (provisions as to forfeited policies), section 3 of the [1929 c. 28.] Industrial Assurance and Friendly Societies Act 1929 (which after the commencement of this Act is confined to industrial assurance companies but is otherwise similar to section 75 below) or section 75 below, and any agreement so made by him to assign or charge all or any of those rights, shall, except in the case of a charge or agreement to charge for the purpose only of securing sums paid for keeping on foot or restoring the insurance, be void; and on any bankruptcy of his or on the sequestration of his estate none of those rights shall pass to any trustee or other person acting on behalf of his creditors.

(3) Subsections (4) and (5) of section 72 above shall apply in relation to this section as they apply in relation to that section.

(4) Any registered society or branch, other than a collecting society or branch thereof, which fails to comply with the provisions of section 72 above shall be guilty of an offence under this section, and any collecting society or branch thereof which fails to comply with the said provisions shall be guilty of an offence under the Industrial Assurance Act 1923, unless (in either case) it is proved that, owing to any false representation on the part of the proposer, the society or branch did not know that the insurance was in contravention of that section.

(5) A society or branch which is guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100.

(6) Section 72 above, this section and Schedule 5 to this Act in their application to collecting societies shall be construed as one with the Industrial Assurance Acts 1923 to 1968.

74 Provisions with respect to certain insurances where person assured is resident outside United Kingdom and Isle of Man

The provisions of Schedule 6 to this Act shall have effect in relation to the insuring by registered friendly societies of money for funeral expenses, or of money to be paid on the duration of a life for a specified period, where the funeral expenses are those, or the life in question is that, of a person who at the time of the proposal is ordinarily resident outside the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.

75 Rights of owners of certain endowment policies

(1) Where under any policy to which this section applies not less than one year's premiums have been paid, the owner of the policy shall be entitled at any time within one year from the date on which the last premium was paid to surrender the policy and to claim either—

(a) a free paid-up policy in conformity with the rules contained in the Schedule to the [1929 c. 28.] Industrial Assurance and Friendly Societies Act 1929; or

(b) payment of a surrender value equal to 90% of the value of the sum or sums payable under such free paid-up policy, calculated in accordance with the last four rules contained in Schedule 4 to the [1923 c. 8.] Industrial Assurance Act 1923.

(2) If any registered friendly society fails to comply with any claim made under subsection (1) above, the society shall, without prejudice to any other liability to which it may be subject, be guilty, in the case of a collecting society, of an offence under the Industrial Assurance Act 1923 and, in the case of any other society, of an offence under this Act.

(3) This section applies to—

(a) any policy issued in pursuance of paragraph 2 of Schedule 6 to this Act;

(b) any policy issued, or deemed under paragraph 6 of Schedule 10 to this Act to have been issued, in accordance with section 1 of the Industrial Assurance and Friendly Societies Act 1929, being a policy in force at some time after 1923 ;

(c) any other endowment policy issued on the life of a child under ten years of age and in force at some time after 1923.

(4) No registered friendly society shall issue any such policy as is mentioned in paragraph (a) or (c) of subsection (3) above unless the rules of the society contain a rule which, in the opinion of the Chief Registrar, sufficiently sets forth the effect of the provisions of this section and of the Schedule mentioned in subsection (1)(a) above.

(5) Every premium receipt book issued by a collecting society in respect of a policy to which this section applies shall set out the provisions of this section and of the Schedule mentioned in subsection (1)(a) above, printed in distinctive type, or, if the Industrial Assurance Commissioner consents, a statement in lieu thereof which in the opinion of the Commissioner sufficiently sets forth the effect of those provisions.

(6) If any premium receipt book issued by a collecting society does not comply with the provisions of subsection (5) above the society shall be guilty of an offence under the [1923 c. 8.] Industrial Assurance Act 1923.

(7) In this section—

• " endowment policy " means any such policy as is mentioned in subsection (3)(a) or (b) above or a policy insuring money to be paid on the duration for a specified period of the life of the member, either with or without provision for the payment of money in the event of the death of that person before the expiration of that period and either with or without provision for the payment of money before the expiration of that period and during the life of that person in the event of the marriage of that person or otherwise ;

• " policy " includes any contract of assurance and the date of the making of any such contract shall be deemed to be the date of the issue of a policy.

(8) This section in its application to collecting societies shall be construed as one with the Industrial Assurance Acts 1923 to 1968.

Disputes

76 Decision of disputes generally

(1) Subject to section 77 below every dispute between—

(a) a member or person claiming through a member or under the rules of a registered society or branch, and the society or branch or an officer thereof, or

(b) any person aggrieved who has ceased to be a member of a registered society or branch, or any person claiming through such an aggrieved person, and the society or branch or an officer thereof, or

(c) any registered branch of a society or branch and the society or branch of which it is a registered branch, or

(d) an officer of any such registered branch and the society or branch of which it is a registered branch, or

(e) any two or more registered branches of any society or branch, or any officers thereof,

shall be decided in the manner directed by the rules of the society or branch, and the decision so given shall be binding and conclusive on all parties without appeal and may not be removed into any court of law or restrained by injunction.

For the purposes of section 14 of the [1971 c. 62.] Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1971 (supervisory powers of superior courts) this subsection shall be deemed to have been contained in an Act passed before 1st August 1958.

(2) An application for the enforcement of such a decision as is referred to in subsection (1) above may be made to the county court.

(3) Where the rules of a registered society or branch direct that disputes shall be referred to justices, the dispute shall be determined by a magistrates' court or, if the parties thereto consent, by the county court.

(4) In this section, the expression " dispute "—

(a) includes any dispute arising on the question whether a member or person aggrieved is entitled to be, or to continue to be, a member or to be reinstated as a member, but

(b) in the case of a person who has ceased to be a member does not (except as provided in paragraph (a) above) include any dispute other than one on a question between him and the society or branch, or an officer thereof, which arose whilst he was a member, or arises out of his previous relation as a member to that society or branch.

(5) In the application of this section to Scotland, in subsection (1) the words " and may not" to the end of the subsection shall be omitted, in subsection (2) for the words " county court " there shall be substituted the word " sheriff " and in subsection (3) for the words from " a magistrates' court" to the end of the subsection there shall be substituted the words " the sheriff ".

77 Reference, by consent, of disputes to Chief or assistant registrar

(1) The parties to a dispute in a registered society or branch may, by consent (unless the rules of the society or branch expressly forbid it), refer the dispute to the Chief Registrar or, in Scotland, to the assistant registrar.

(2) The Chief or assistant registrar to whom a dispute is referred under this section shall, either by himself or by any assistant registrar, hear and determine the dispute and shall have power to order the expenses of determining the dispute to be paid either out of the funds of the society or branch, or by such parties to the dispute as he may think fit; and his determination and order shall have the same effect and be enforceable in the same manner as a decision made in the manner directed by the rules of the society or branch.

(3) The Chief or assistant registrar to whom a dispute is referred may administer oaths and may require the attendance of all parties concerned, and of witnesses, and the production of all books and documents relating to the matter in question.

(4) In this section " dispute " means a dispute falling within section 76 above.

78 Statement of case and discovery, etc., of documents

(1) Section 21 of the [1950 c. 27.] Arbitration Act 1950 shall not apply to any dispute falling within section 76 above and, notwithstanding anything in any other enactment, the court or the Chief or assistant registrar, or any arbitrator, arbiter or umpire to whom such a dispute is referred under the rules of a registered society or branch, shall not be compelled to state a case on any question of law arising in the dispute but may, at the request of either party, state such a case for the opinion of the High Court or, in Scotland, the Court of Session.

(2) Where a dispute falling within section 76 above is referred to a magistrates' court, the court may grant to either party such discovery of documents, being, in the case of discovery to be made on behalf of the society or branch, discovery by such officer of the society or branch as the court may determine, as might have been granted by virtue of section 12 of the Arbitration Act 1950 by the Chief or an assistant registrar to whom the dispute had been referred.

(3) Where a dispute falling within section 76 above has been referred to the assistant registrar for Scotland, the registrar may grant such warrant for the recovery of documents and examination of havers as might be granted by the sheriff.

79 Reference of disputes to court otherwise than under rules

(1) Where no decision is made on a dispute within forty days after application to the registered society or branch in question for a reference under its rules then, subject to subsection (2) below, any person, society or branch such as is mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e) of section 76(1) above who is a party to the dispute may apply to the county court or a magistrates' court or, in Scotland, to the sheriff, and the court to which application is so made may hear and determine the matter in dispute.

(2) In the case of a society with branches, the period of forty days referred to in subsection (1) above shall not begin to run until application has been made in succession to all the bodies entitled to determine the dispute under the rules of the society or branch, but the rules of the society or branch shall not require a greater delay than three months between each successive determination of a dispute by the bodies entitled under the rules to determine the dispute.

(3) The provisions of this section also apply where the rules of a registered society, or the rules of a registered branch, contain no direction as to disputes.

(4) In this section " dispute " means a dispute falling within section 76 above.

80 Disputes arising out of loans of surplus funds to societies of different description

(1) Where a registered society or branch (in this section referred to as " the lender") has made or agreed to make advances under section 50 above to another society or branch (in this section referred to as " the borrower") and the lender is by reason thereof empowered by the rules of the borrower to take part in the government or control of the borrower, then, subject to subsection (2) below, sections 76 to 79 above shall apply in relation to the determination of any dispute between the lender and the borrower, being a dispute relating to any such advance or agreement or to the rights of the lender or an officer thereof under the rules of the borrower, as if the borrower were a branch of the lender.

(2) Where sections 76 to 79 above apply by virtue of subsection (1) above,—

(a) references in those sections to the rules of the society or branch are references to the rules of the borrower; and

(b) section 76(1) above shall not prevent the bringing of legal proceedings for the determination of any such dispute as is referred to in subsection (1) above unless, before the commencement of the proceedings, application has been made for a reference under the rules of the borrower, and any such proceedings may be brought in a county court or, in Scotland, before the sheriff, whether or not the court would apart from this provision have jurisdiction to entertain them; and

(c) any application under section 79(1) above (other than an application made in Scotland) must be made to the county court and not to a magistrates' court.

Change of name, amalgamation and transfer of engagements and conversion of societies

81 Power to change name

(1) A registered society may change its name by an amendment of its rules and in no other manner, but no amendment of the rules of a registered society which purports to change the name of the society shall be registered under section 18 of this Act unless that change has the approval in writing of the Chief Registrar or, in the case of societies registered and doing business exclusively in Scotland, the assistant registrar for Scotland.

(2) No such change of name shall affect any right or obligation of the society or of any member thereof, and any pending legal proceedings may be continued by or against the trustees of the society, or any other officer who may sue or be sued on behalf of the society, notwithstanding its new name.

82 Amalgamation and transfer of engagements

(1) Any two or more registered societies may, by special resolution of each of them, become amalgamated together a one society with or without any dissolution or division of the funds of those societies or any of them.

(2) A registered society may, by special resolution, transfer its engagements to any other registered society which, by special resolution or in such other manner as may be authorised by its rules, undertakes to fulfil those engagements.

(3) A registered society may by special resolution determine to transfer its engagements to a company under the Companies Acts.

(4) Before a registered friendly society becomes amalgamated with, or transfers its engagements to, another friendly society in pursuance of subsection (1) or subsection (2) above, or transfers its engagements to a company in accordance with subsection (3) above, information relating to the terms of the proposed amalgamation or transfer shall be given to the members of the society—

(a) by sending to each member of the society, not less than fourteen days before the date of the general meeting at which the resolution for the amalgamation or transfer is to be proposed, a notice in terms approved for the purpose by the Chief Registrar; or

(b) if the Chief Registrar so allows in the case of all or any of the members of the society, by placing an advertisement, in terms approved for the purpose by him, in such newspaper or newspapers, and at such time or times, as he may specify.

(5) If a registered society transfers all its engagements to a company under the Companies Acts, the registration of that society under this Act shall thereupon become void and shall be cancelled by the Chief Registrar or, under the direction of the Chief Registrar, by the assistant registrar for Scotland.

(6) A registered society consisting wholly of members under twenty-one and a registered society or branch or branches of a society having members above twenty-one may, by resolutions registered in the manner required for the registration of an amendment of rules, become amalgamated together as one society or branch, or provide for distributing among several branches the members of a society consisting wholly of members under twenty-one; and the preceding provisions of this section shall not apply to such an amalgamation.

(7) An amalgamation or transfer of engagements in pursuance of any of the provisions of this section shall not prejudice any right of a creditor of any registered society which is a party thereto.

83 Objections to amalgamations and transfers of engagements of friendly societies

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, where a special resolution has been passed for the amalgamation, or transfer of the engagements, of a registered friendly society—

(a) any member of the society may by notice in writing complain to the Chief Registrar on the ground that the provisions of section 82 above or section 86 below or of any other provision of this Act or of any rules of the society relating to the procedure for deciding on the resolution have not been complied with ; and

(b) any person (whether a member of the society or not) who claims that he is one of a class of persons who to a substantial extent would be adversely affected by the amalgamation or transfer may by notice in writing complain to the Chief Registrar on that ground.

(2) A complaint under this section may not be made after the expiry of the period of six weeks beginning with the date on which the special resolution concerned is received at the central office (being the period referred to in section 86(4) below), but where such a complaint is made the special resolution shall not be registered until the complaint is finally determined or is withdrawn.

(3) Subsections (2) and (3) of section 77 above shall apply in relation to a complaint made to the Chief Registrar under this section as they apply in relation to a dispute referred to him under subsection (1) of that section; and it is hereby declared that the [1950 c. 27.] Arbitration Act 1950 does not apply to proceedings on a complaint under this section.

(4) Where a complaint is made under this section the Chief Registrar may either dismiss it or if, after giving the complainant and the registered society concerned an opportunity of being heard, he finds the complaint to be justified, may either—

(a) so declare, but make no other declaration or order under this subsection on the complaint; or

(b) declare the special resolution to be invalid; or

(c) make such order as he thinks fit modifying the terms of the amalgamation or transfer and, where appropriate, specifying the steps which must be taken before the special resolution may be registered at the central office;

and it shall be the duty of the Chief Registrar to furnish a statement, either written or oral, of the reasons for any decision which he gives on a complaint under this section.

(5) Where an order has been made under subsection (4)(c) above in relation to a proposed amalgamation or transfer of engagements, the central office shall not register a special resolution for giving effect to that amalgamation or transfer unless satisfied that any steps specified in the order have been taken.

(6) Subject to subsections (7) and (8) below, the validity of a special resolution passed for either of the purposes referred to in subsection (1) above shall not be questioned in any legal proceedings whatsoever (except proceedings before the Chief Registrar under this section or arising out of any such proceedings) on any ground on which a complaint could be, or could have been, made to the Chief Registrar under this section.

(7) In the course of proceedings on a complaint under this section the Chief Registrar may, if he thinks fit, at the request of the complainant or of the registered society concerned, state a case for the opinion of the High Court, or if the society concerned is registered in Scotland the Court of Session, on any question of law arising in the proceedings; and the decision of the High Court or, as the case may be, the Court of Session on a case stated under this subsection shall be final.

(8) Without prejudice to subsection (1) above, where a special resolution has been passed for the amalgamation of a registered friendly society (whether or not the resolution has taken effect) any person, whether a member of the society or not, who—

(a) claims to be entitled to receive any form of benefit from the society, and

(b) is dissatisfied with the provision made for satisfying his claim,

may within the period of three months beginning with the day on which the special resolution is passed make an application to the county court for the district, or in Scotland to the sheriff of the sheriffdom, within which the chief or any other place of business of the society, or (if the amalgamation has taken effect) the amalgamated society, is situated, and on any such application the county court or sheriff shall have the same powers in the matter as in regard to the settlement of disputes under this Act.

84 Conversion of registered societies into companies

(1) A registered society may by special resolution determine to convert itself into a company under the Companies Acts.

(2) If a special resolution for converting a registered society into a company contains the particulars required by the Companies Acts to be contained in the memorandum of association of a company and a copy thereof has been registered at the central office, a copy of that resolution under the seal and stamp of the central office shall have the same effect as a memorandum of association duly signed and attested under the Companies Acts.

(3) Subject to subsection (4) below, if a registered society is registered as a company under the Companies Acts, the registration of that society under this Act shall thereupon become void and shall be cancelled by the Chief Registrar or, under the direction of the Chief Registrar, by the assistant registrar for Scotland.

(4) Registration of a registered society as a company shall not affect any right or claim subsisting against the society or any penalty incurred by the society ; and—

(a) for the purpose of enforcing any such right, claim or penalty, the society may be sued and proceeded against in the same manner as if it had not become registered as a company ; and

(b) every such right or claim, or the liability to any such penalty, shall have priority as against the property of the company over all other rights or claims against or liabilities of the company.

85 Conversion of society into branch

(1) By a resolution passed by a majority of the members or delegates present and entitled to vote at any general meeting, of which notice specifying the intention to propose any such resolution has been duly given according to the rules, a registered society may determine to become a branch of any other registered society and also, if thought fit, of any registered branch thereof.

(2) If the rules of the society do not comply with all the provisions of this Act and of the Treasury regulations in respect of the registration of branches, the meeting at which any such resolution is passed as is referred to in subsection (1) above may amend the rules so as to bring the rules into compliance with this Act and with the Treasury regulations.

(3) Where such a resolution as is referred to in subsection (1) above has been passed at a general meeting of a registered society, there shall be sent to the registrar—

(a) a copy of the rules of the society marked to show the amendments, if any, made at the meeting, and

(b) two copies of the resolution and of any such amendment of rules, each signed by the chairman of the meeting and by the secretary of the society and countersigned by the secretary of the society of which it is to become a branch.

(4) If the registrar finds that the rules of a society, with or without any such amendment as is referred to in subsections (2) and (3) above, comply with the provisions of this Act and of the Treasury regulations, he shall—

(a) without further request or notice, cancel the registration of the society and register it as a branch of the other society referred to in the resolution in question and also, if it is so specified in that resolution, of any branch of that other society; and

(b) without further application or evidence, register any such amendment of rules ;

and until such registration the resolution shall not take effect.

(5) Notwithstanding anything in section 91(6) below, publication of a notice of any cancellation of registration under this section shall not be required.

(6) The rules of a society which becomes a branch under this section shall, so far as they are not contrary to any express provision of this Act or of the Treasury regulations, and subject to any such amendment thereof as is referred to in the preceding provisions of this section, continue in force as the rules of the branch until amended.

86 Meaning and registration of special resolutions

(1) For the purposes of this Act a special resolution, in relation to a registered society, is a resolution passed—

(a) at a general meeting of which notice, specifying the intention to propose that resolution, has been duly given in accordance with the society's rules, and

(b) by not less than three-quarters of those members of the society for the time being entitled under the society's rules to vote who vote either in person or by proxy at the meeting or, in the case of a meeting of delegates appointed by members, by not less than three-quarters of the delegates who vote at the meeting.

(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the rules of a registered society, at any such general meeting as is referred to in subsection (1)(a) above, other than a meeting of delegates, proxy voting shall be permitted on any resolution which, if passed as mentioned in subsection (1)(b) above, would be a special resolution, and the procedure adopted by a registered, society for proxy voting on any such resolution shall comply with any requirements imposed by the Chief Registrar by regulations made under this section.

(3) A copy of every special resolution for any of the purposes mentioned in this Act, signed by the chairman of the meeting and countersigned by the secretary, shall be sent to the central office and, subject to subsection (4) below, shall be registered there; and until that copy is so registered the special resolution shall not take effect.

(4) Where, in accordance with subsection (3) above, there is sent to the central office a copy of a special resolution passed at a meeting of a registered friendly society for the purpose referred to in subsection (1), subsection (2) or subsection (3) of section 82 above, the resolution shall not be registered (and accordingly shall not take effect) before the expiry of the period of six weeks beginning with the date on which it is received at the central office.

Inspection, winding up and suspension of business

87 Power of Chief Registrar to inspect and apply for winding up of registered friendly societies and branches

(1) If it appears to the Chief Registrar to be expedient to do so in the interests of the members of a registered friendly society or of the public he may appoint an inspector to examine into and report on the affairs of the society, and for that purpose the inspector may require the production of all or any of the books and documents of the society and may examine on oath its officers, members, agents and servants in relation to its business, and may administer oaths accordingly.

(2) If on receiving the report of an inspector appointed by him under this section, it appears to the Chief Registrar that it is in the interests of the members of the society or of the public that the society should be wound up, then, unless the society is already being wound up by the court, the Chief Registrar may present a petition to the High Court or, in Scotland, to the Court of Session for the society to be wound up by the court in accordance with the [1948 c. 38.] Companies Act 1948 if the court thinks it just and equitable that this should be done.

(3) The Chief Registrar may, if he considers it just, direct that all or any of the expenses of and incidental or preliminary to an inspection under this section shall be defrayed out of the funds of the society, or by the members or officers, or former members or officers, of the society in such proportions as he may direct.

(4) The provisions of this section apply in relation to a registered branch of a registered friendly society as they apply in relation to such a society.

88 Power of Chief Registrar to suspend business of registered friendly societies and branches

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, if with respect to any registered friendly society, the Chief Registrar considers it expedient to do so in the interests of the members of the society or the public, he may make an order forbidding the society to accept any new members or to enter into a new contract with any member of the society.

(2) Not less than one month before making an order under subsection (1) above in relation to a society the Chief Registrar shall serve on the society a notice stating that he proposes to make such an order.

(3) A notice under subsection (2) above shall specify the considerations which have led the Chief Registrar to conclude that it would be in the interests of the members of the society or of the public to make the order.

(4) The Chief Registrar shall consider any representations with respect to a notice under subsection (2) above which may be made to him by the society within such period (not being less than one month) from the date on which the society is served with the notice as the Chief Registrar may allow and, if the society so requests, shall afford to it an opportunity of being heard by him within that period.

(5) On making an order under subsection (1) above in relation to a society, the Chief Registrar shall serve on the society notice of the making of the order, specifying the considerations which have led him to conclude that it is expedient to make the order in the interests of the members of the society or of the public; and the Chief Registrar may not make an order under subsection (1) above unless all the considerations so specified were those, or were among those, which were specified in the notice served on the society under subsection (2) above.

(6) Notice of the making of an order under subsection (1) above shall be published by the Chief Registrar in the Gazette and in such other ways as appear to him expedient for informing the public.

(7) If a society contravenes the provisions of an order under subsection (1) above it shall be liable on conviction on indictment or on summary conviction to a fine which, on summary conviction, shall not exceed £400; and every officer of the society who knowingly and wilfully authorises or permits the contravention shall be liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both, or

(b) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £400.

(8) An order under subsection (1) above may be revoked by a subsequent order made by the Chief Registrar.

(9) The provisions of this section apply in relation to a registered branch of a registered friendly society as they apply in relation to such a society.

89 Power of Chief Registrar to require production of documents

(1) The Chief Registrar may at any time, if he thinks there is good reason to do so—

(a) give directions to a registered friendly society requiring the society, at such time and place as may be specified in the directions, to produce such books or papers as may be so specified; or

(b) authorise an officer of the central office, on producing (if required to do so) evidence of his authority, to require a registered friendly society to produce to him forthwith any books or papers which the officer may specify.

(2) Where by virtue of subsection (1) above the Chief Registrar or any officer of the central office has power to require the production of any books or papers from a registered friendly society, the Chief Registrar or officer shall have the like power to require production of those books or papers from any person who appears to the Chief Registrar or officer to be in possession of them; but where any such person claims a lien on books or papers produced by him, the production shall be without prejudice to the Men.

(3) Any power conferred by or by virtue of this section to require a registered friendly society or other person to produce books or papers includes power—

(a) if the books or papers are produced, to take copies of them or extracts from them and to require that person, or any other person who is an officer or former officer of, or is or was at any time employed by, the society in question, to provide an explanation of them;

(b) if the books or papers are not produced, to require the person who was required to produce them to state, to the best of his knowledge and belief, where they are.

(4) Subject to subsection (5) below, if a requirement to produce books or papers or provide an explanation or make a statement which is imposed by virtue of this section is not complied with, the society or other person on whom the requirement was so imposed shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £400.

(5) Where a person is charged with an offence under subsection (4) above in respect of a requirement to produce any books or papers, it shall be a defence to prove that they were not in his possession or under his control and that it was not reasonably practicable for him to comply with the requirement

(6) A statement made by a person in compliance with a requirement imposed by virtue of this section, including any explanation provided under subsection (3)(a) above, may be used in evidence against him.

(7) The provisions of this section apply in relation to a registered branch of a registered friendly society as they apply in relation to such a society.

90 Appointment of inspectors and calling of special meetings

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, upon the application of one-fifth of the whole number of members of a registered society or, in the case of a society of not less than 1,000 members of the appropriate number of those members, the Chief Registrar or, in the case of societies registered and doing business exclusively in Scotland, the assistant registrar for Scotland, may—

(a) appoint an inspector or inspectors to examine into and report on the affairs of the society; or

(b) call a special meeting of the society.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) above the appropriate number—

(a) is 100 in the case of a society of not less than 1,000 and not more than 10,000 members, and

(b) is 500 in the case of a society of more than 10,000 members;

but this section shall not apply to any society with branches (regardless of the number of members) except with the consent of the central body of that society.

(3) An application under this section shall be supported by such evidence for the purpose of showing that the applicants have good reason for requiring the inspection or meeting and are not actuated by malicious motives, and such notice of the application shall be given to the society, as the Chief Registrar may direct.

(4) The Chief or assistant registrar may, if he thinks fit require the applicants to give security for the costs of the proposed inspection or meeting before appointing any inspector or calling the meeting.

(5) All expenses of and incidental or preliminary to any such inspection or meeting shall be defrayed by the members applying for it, or out of the funds of the society, or by members or officers, or former members or officers, of the society in such proportions as the Chief or assistant registrar may direct.

(6) An inspector appointed under this section may require the production of all or any of the books and documents of the society, and may examine on oath its officers, members, agents and servants in relation to its business, and may for that purpose administer oaths.

(7) The Chief or assistant registrar may direct at what time and place a special meeting under this section is to be held, and what matters are to be discussed and determined at the meeting ; and the meeting shall have all the powers of a meeting called according to the rules of the society, and shall have power to appoint its own chairman notwithstanding any rule of the society to the contrary.

Cancellation and suspension of registration and dissolution

91 Cancellation and suspension of registration

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, the Chief Registrar or, in the case of a society registered and doing business exclusively in Scotland, the assistant registrar for Scotland may, by writing under his hand, cancel the registration of a society in the following cases, namely,—

(a) if he thinks fit, at the request of the society evidenced in such manner as he may direct;

(b) on proof to his satisfaction that an acknowledgement of registration has been obtained by fraud or mistake;

(c) on proof to his satisfaction that the society exists for an unlawful purpose or has wilfully and after notice from the Chief or any assistant registrar violated any of the provisions of this Act, or has ceased to exist.

(2) Subject to the following provisions of this section, in any case falling within paragraph (b) or paragraph (c) of subsection (1) above in which the Chief Registrar or the assistant registrar for Scotland might cancel the registration of a society, he may, by writing under his hand,—

(a) suspend the registration of the society for a term not exceeding three months ; and

(b) from time to time renew any such suspension for the like period.

(3) Subject to subsection (4) below, not less than two months' previous notice in writing specifying briefly the ground of the proposed cancellation or suspension shall be given to a society by the Chief or assistant registrar before its registration is cancelled or suspended.

(4) Subsection (3) above shall not apply where the registration of a society is cancelled at its own request or under section 82(5), section 84(3) or section 85(4) above; and if before the expiry of the period of notice under subsection (3) above a society duly lodges an appeal under section 92 below, the society's registration shall not be cancelled before the date of determination or abandonment of the appeal.

(5) Where before the expiry of the period of notice under subsection (3) above of the proposed cancellation of a society's registration the society duly lodges an appeal against the proposed cancellation under section 92 below, the Chief or assistant registrar, as the case may require, may by writing under his hand suspend the society's registration from the expiry of that period until the date of the determination or abandonment of the appeal.

(6) Where the registration of a society has been cancelled or suspended, notice shall forthwith be published in the Gazette and in some newspaper in general circulation in the neighbourhood of the society's registered office.

(7) Where the registration of a society has been cancelled under subsection (1) above or suspended under subsection (2) or subsection (5) above, then, as the case may require,—

(a) from the time of the cancellation, or

(b) from the time of the suspension until the period of that suspension and any renewal of it under subsection (2)(b) above ends (whether on the expiry of that period or on a successful appeal under section 92 below against such a renewal),

the society shall not be entitled to any of the privileges of this Act as a registered society, but without prejudice to any liability actually incurred by the society (which liability may be enforced against it as if the cancellation or suspension had not taken place).

92 Appeals against cancellation and suspension of registration

(1) A society may appeal, in accordance with subsection (2) below, against—

(a) the cancellation of its registration (other than as mentioned in section 91(4) above) if the appeal is lodged before the expiry of the period of notice of the proposed cancellation given under subsection (3) of section 91 above; or

(b) the renewal under subsection (2)(b) of that section of a suspension of a society's registration, so far as that renewal provides for the suspension to continue more than six months from the original date of suspension.

(2) An appeal under this section shall lie—

(a) from a decision of the assistant registrar for Scotland, to the Chief Registrar and, if the Chief Registrar confirms the decision, to the Court of Session;

(b) from a decision of the Chief Registrar otherwise than under paragraph (a) above, to the High Court.

93 Dissolution of societies and branches

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, a registered society or branch may terminate or be dissolved in any of the following ways, namely—

(a) upon the happening of any event declared by the rules to be the termination of the society or branch; or

(b) by the consent of three-quarters of the members of the society or branch testified by their signatures to the instrument of dissolution and, in the case of a branch of a friendly society, with the consent of the central body of the society or in accordance with the society's general rules; or

(c) by the award of the Chief Registrar under section 95(3) below.

(2) A society which has branches shall not be dissolved except with the consent of the central body of the society.

(3) If any member of a registered friendly society or branch in respect of which an instrument of dissolution has been registered in accordance with section 94 below, or if any person claiming any relief, annuity or other benefit from the funds of such a society or branch is dissatisfied with the provision made for satisfying his claim, he may within the period of three months referred to in subsection (7) of that section make an application to the county court for the district, or in Scotland to the sheriff of the sheriffdom, within which the chief or any other place of business of that society or branch is situated, and on any such application the county court or sheriff shall have the same powers in the matter as in regard to the settlement of disputes under this Act.

(4) If, in the event of a dissolution of a registered friendly society or branch, any approved annuity, as defined in section 226(13) of the [1970 c. 10.] Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970, ceases: to be paid or any contract for the payment of such an annuity fails in whole or in part, no payment shall be made in respect thereof out of the funds of the society or branch to the annuitant or other person entitled to the benefit of the contract, but any sum which, but for this provision, would have been paid to him shall be applied in purchasing for the benefit of the annuitant an annuity (for the like term and subject to the like conditions against surrender, commutation or assignment) from a person lawfully carrying on in the United Kingdom a business of granting annuities on human life.

94 Instrument of dissolution

(1) The provisions of this section apply where a registered society or branch is dissolved as mentioned in paragraph (b) of section 93(1) above.

(2) The instrument of dissolution shall specify—

(a) the liabilities and assets of the society or branch in detail;

(b) the number of members and the nature of their interests in the society or branch;

(c) the claims of creditors, if any, and the provision to be made for their payment; and

(d) unless stated in the instrument of dissolution to be left to the award of the Chief Registrar, the intended appropriation or division of the funds and property of the society or branch.

(3) Alterations in the instrument of dissolution may be made with the like consents as are required by section 93(1)(b) above for the dissolution of the society or branch, testified in the same manner.

(4) The instrument of dissolution shall be sent to the registrar accompanied by a statutory declaration made by one of the trustees or by three members and the secretary of the society or branch that the provisions of this Act have been complied with.

(5) The instrument of dissolution shall not, in the case of a registered friendly society or branch, direct or contain any provision for a division or appropriation of the funds of the society or branch, or any part thereof, except for the purpose of carrying into effect the objects of the society or branch as declared in the rules thereof, unless the claim of every member or person claiming any relief, annuity or other benefit from the funds of the society or branch is first duly satisfied or adequate provisions are made for satisfying those claims.

(6) The instrument of dissolution and any alterations thereto shall be registered in like manner as an amendment of the rules of the society or branch and shall be binding upon all the members of the society or branch.

(7) The registrar shall cause a notice of the dissolution to be advertised at the expense of the society or branch in the Gazette and in some newspaper in general circulation in the neighbourhood of the registered office of the society or branch; and unless—

(a) within three months from the date of the Gazette in which that advertisement appears a member or other person interested in or having any claim on the funds of the society or branch commences proceedings to set aside the dissolution of the society or branch, and

(b) that dissolution is set aside accordingly,

the society or branch shall be legally dissolved from the date of the advertisement, and the requisite consents to the instrument of dissolution shall be deemed to have been duly obtained without proof of the signatures thereto.

95 Dissolution by award

(1) On receipt of an application under this section relating to a registered society or branch and after giving not less than one month's notice in writing to the society or branch, the Chief Registrar, either by himself or by any assistant registrar or by any actuary or auditor whom the Chief Registrar may appoint in writing under his hand, may investigate the affairs of the society or branch.

(2) An application under this section shall be made in writing under the hands of the like proportion or number of members and, in the case of a society with branches with the like consent, as are required for the making of an application under section 90 above and shall—

(a) state that the funds of the society or branch are insufficient to meet the existing claims thereon, or that the rates of contribution fixed in the rules of the society or branch are insufficient to cover the benefits assured ; and

(b) set forth the grounds on which the insufficiency is alleged; and

(c) request an investigation into the affairs of the society or branch with a view to the dissolution thereof.

(3) Subject to subsection (4) below, if upon an investigation under this section it appears that the funds of the society or branch are insufficient to meet the existing claims thereon, or that the rates of contribution fixed in the rules of the society or branch are insufficient to cover the benefits assured to be given by the society or branch, the Chief Registrar may, if he considers it expedient to do so, award that the society or branch be dissolved and its affairs wound up, and where such an award is made the Chief Registrar shall direct in what manner the assets of the society or branch shall be divided or appropriated.

(4) Where the Chief Registrar makes an award under subsection (3) above he may suspend the operation thereof for such period as he may deem necessary to enable the society or branch to make such alterations and adjustments of contributions and benefits as will in his judgment prevent the necessity of the award of dissolution coming into operation; and where within that period the society makes such alterations and adjustments the Chief Registrar may cancel the award.

(5) The Chief or any assistant registrar proceeding under this section shall have the same powers and authorities, enforceable by the same penalties, as in the case of a dispute referred to him under this Act.

(6) Within twenty-one days after the making of an award of dissolution of a society or branch, the central office shall cause notice of the award of dissolution to be advertised in the Gazette and in some newspaper in general circulation in the neighbourhood of the registered office of the society or branch; and unless—

(a) within three months from the date on which that advertisement appears, a member or other person interested in or having any claim on the funds of the society or branch commences proceedings to set aside the dissolution of the society or branch consequent upon the award, and

(b) the dissolution is set aside accordingly,

the society or branch shall be legally dissolved from the date of the advertisement, and the requisite consents to the application under this section shall be deemed to have been duly obtained without proof of the signatures thereto.

(7) The expenses of every investigation and award under this section and of advertising every notice of dissolution shall be paid out of the funds of the society or branch before any other appropriation thereof is made.

96 Finality of awards for dissolution or distribution of funds

Every award under section 95(3) above shall, without appeal, be final and conclusive on—

(a) the society or branch in respect of which the award is made; and

(b) all members of that society or branch ; and

(c) all other persons having any claim on the funds of that society or branch;

and every such award shall be enforced in the same manner as a decision on a dispute under this Act.

97 Notice of proceedings or order to set aside dissolution

(1) Where any person takes proceedings to set aside the dissolution of a society or branch, he shall give notice of the proceedings to the registrar not later than the expiry of whichever of the following periods first expires, namely,—

(a) the period of seven days after the commencement of the proceedings; and

(b) the period of three months referred to in section 94(7)(a) above or, as the case may require, section 95(6)(a) above.

(2) Where an order is made setting aside the dissolution of a society or branch, the society or branch shall give notice of the order to the registrar within seven days after the order is made.

Offences, penalties and legal proceedings

98 Offences

(1) It shall be an offence under this Act if—

(a) a registered society or branch or an officer or member thereof fails to give any notice, send any return Or document, or do or allow to be done anything which the society, branch, officer or member is by this Act required to give, send, do or allow to be done; or

(b) a registered society or branch or an officer or member thereof wilfully neglects or refuses to do any act or to furnish any information required for the purposes of this Act by the Chief or an assistant registrar or by any other person authorised under this Act, or does anything forbidden by this Act; or

(c) a registered society or branch or an officer or member thereof makes a return or wilfully furnishes information in any respect false or insufficient, being a return or information required for the purposes of this Act; or

(d) an officer or member of a body which, having been a branch of a society, has wholly seceded or been expelled from that society, thereafter uses the name of that society or any name implying that the body is a branch of that society or the number by which that body was designated as such a branch ; or

(e) where a dispute is referred under this Act to the Chief or an assistant registrar, or a complaint is made under section 83 above to the Chief Registrar, a person refuses to attend or to produce any documents, or to give evidence before the Chief or assistant registrar; or

(f) a society or branch, whether registered or unregistered, pays money on the death of a child under ten years of age otherwise than as is provided by this Act; or

(g) a parent or personal representative of the parent claiming money on the death of a child produces a certificate of the death other than as is in this Act provided to the society or branch from which the money is claimed, or produces a false certificate or one fraudulently obtained, or in any way attempts to defeat the provisions of this Act with respect to payments upon the death of children.

(2) Nothing in subsection (1) above shall apply to any act, omission or contravention which constitutes an offence by virtue of any provision of this Act other than that subsection or to any act, omission or contravention which by virtue of any such provision constitutes an offence under the [1923 c. 8.] Industrial Assurance Act 1923.

(3) A society or branch and any officer or member of a; society or branch or other person guilty of an offence under this Act, other than an offence for which some other penalty is expressly provided by this Act, shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £50.

(4) If an officer of a friendly society or any other person aids or abets in the amalgamation or transfer of engagements or in the dissolution of a friendly society otherwise than as provided in this Act, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £200.

(5) Where a registered society or branch is guilty of an offence under this Act, every officer of the society or branch who is bound by the rules thereof to fulfil any duty whereof the offence is a breach, or if there is no such officer then every member of the committee other than a member who is proved to have been ignorant of or to have attempted to prevent the commission of the offence, shall be liable to the same penalty as if he had committed the offence.

(6) Every default under this Act which constitutes an offence shall, if it continues, constitute a new offence in every week during which the default continues.

(7) Subject to subsection (8) below, notwithstanding any limitation on the time for the taking of proceedings contained in any enactment, summary proceedings for offences under this Act which are instituted by the Chief Registrar or any assistant registrar or by the procurator fiscal may be commenced at any time within one year of the first discovery thereof by the registrar, but not in any case after more than three years from the commission of the offence.

(8) Subsection (7) above shall not apply where the society or branch by or in respect of which, or the person by or in respect of whom, the offence is alleged to have been committed is a collecting society or an officer of such a society (for which cases corresponding provision is made by section 39(5) of the [1923 c. 8.] Industrial Assurance Act 1923).

99 Punishment of fraud, etc. and recovery of property misapplied

(1) If any person, with intent to mislead or defraud,—

(a) gives to any other person a copy of any rules, laws, regulations or other documents, other than the rules of a registered society or branch, on the pretence that they are the existing rules of that society or branch or that there are no other rules of the society or branch, or

(b) gives to any person a copy of any rules on the pretence that they are the rules of a registered society or branch when the society or branch is not registered,

he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £400 or on conviction on indictment to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both a fine and such a term of imprisonment.

(2) If any person obtains possession by false representation or imposition of any property of a registered society or branch, or fraudulently withholds any such property in his possession or fraudulently applies any such property for purposes which are not authorised by the rules of the society or branch or which are not in accordance with this Act, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £400 and to be ordered to deliver up that property or to repay all moneys improperly applied ; and any person who fails to comply with such an order made by a court in Scotland shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two months.

(3) If—

(a) in proceedings under subsection (2) above which do not result in a conviction, or

(b) in civil proceedings instituted for the purpose,

a magistrates' court or, in Scotland, the sheriff is satisfied that any person having possession of any property of a registered society or branch has failed to deliver it up when requested to do so by the society or branch, the court or sheriff may make an order requiring him to deliver up that property; and any person who fails to comply with such an order made by a sheriff in Scotland shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two months.

(4) If in any such proceedings as are referred to in subsection (3) above a magistrates' court or sheriff is satisfied that any person has applied money belonging to a registered society or branch for purposes which are not authorised by the rules of the society or branch or which are not in accordance with this Act, the court or sheriff may order him to repay to the society or branch the money which he has so applied; and, whatever the nature of the proceedings in which any such order is made, the order shall be enforceable as an order for the payment of money recoverable, in the central registration area, summarily as a civil debt.

(5) Where a magistrates' court or sheriff makes an order under subsection (3) or subsection (4) above, that order may be appealed against as if it were an order of that court made on the conviction of the person to whom the order is directed.

(6) Proceedings under subsection (2) above may be instituted by, and in the central registration area only by, the following persons, that is to say—

(a) in the case of a registered society, by the society or any member authorised by the society, or the trustees or committee of the society; or

(b) in the case of a registered branch, by the branch or any member authorised by it or the trustees or committee thereof or by the central body of the society of which the branch forms part, or by any member of the society or branch authorised by the central body; or

(c) in any case by the Chief Registrar or any assistant registrar by his authority, or by any member of the society or branch authorised by the central office.

(7) Nothing in this Act shall prevent any person guilty of an offence under this section from being proceeded against by way of indictment, if he has not previously been convicted of the same offence under the provisions of this Act.

100 Falsification of balance sheets, etc.

If any person wilfully, and with intent to falsify the document in question or to evade any of the provisions of this Act, makes, orders or allows to be made any entry or erasure in. or omission from,—

(a) a balance sheet of a registered society or branch, or

(b) a return or document required to be sent, produced or delivered for the purposes of this Act,

he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £400.

101 Prosecution of offences, recovery of costs or expenses

(1) Summary proceedings for an offence under this Act may be instituted by the Chief Registrar or any assistant registrar or by any person aggrieved.

(2) Any costs or expenses ordered or directed by the Chief or any assistant registrar to be paid by any person under this Act shall be recoverable summarily as a civil debt.

(3) In the application of subsection (2) above to Scotland, the word " summarily " shall be omitted.

102 Jurisdiction of magistrates' courts

Without prejudice to the provisions of the [1952 c. 55.] Magistrates' Courts Act 1952 as to the jurisdiction of a magistrates' court, in England and Wales all summary offences under this Act may be prosecuted—

(a) where the prosecution is against a registered society or branch or any officer thereof, before a magistrates' court acting for the petty sessions area in which the registered office of the society or branch is situated; and

(b) where the prosecution is against a person other than a registered society or branch or an officer thereof, before a magistrates' court acting for the petty sessions area in which the person is resident at the time of the institution of the prosecution.

103 Legal proceedings concerning registered societies, etc.

(1) The trustees of a registered society or branch, or any officers authorised by the rules thereof, may bring or defend, or cause to be brought or defended, any action or other legal proceedings in any court whatsoever, touching or concerning any property, right or claim of the society or branch, and may sue and be sued in their proper names, without any other description than the title of their office.

(2) In legal proceedings brought under this Act by a member or person claiming through a member, a registered society or branch may also be sued in the name, as defendant or defender, of any officer or person who receives contributions or issues policies on behalf of the society or branch within the jurisdiction of the court in which the legal proceedings are brought, with the addition of the words "on behalf of the society or branch " (naming the same).

(3) Legal proceedings shall not abate or be discontinued by the death, resignation or removal from office, of any officer, or by any act of any officer after the commencement of the proceedings.

(4) The summons, writ, process or other proceeding to be issued to or against the officer or other person sued on behalf of a registered society or branch shall be sufficiently served by personally serving that officer or other person or by leaving a true copy thereof at the registered office of the society or branch, or at any place of business of the society or branch within the jurisdiction of the court in which the proceeding is brought, or if that office or place of business is closed, by posting the copy on the outer door of that office or place of business.

(5) In any case where any such summons, writ, process or other proceeding as is mentioned in subsection (4) above is not served in one of the ways specified in that subsection, it shall be served by sending a copy thereof in a letter sent by registered post or by the recorded delivery service addressed to the committee at the registered office of the society or branch and posted at least six days before any further step is taken in the proceedings.

(6) Where proceedings are taken against a society or branch for the recovery of any fine under this Act the summons or other process shall be sufficiently served by leaving a true copy thereof at the registered office of the society or branch or at any place of business of the society or branch which is within the jurisdiction of the court in which the proceedings are brought or, if that office or place of business is closed, by posting the copy on the outer door of that office or place of business.

(7) Where the person against whom any proceedings are to be taken is himself a trustee of a society or branch, the proceedings may be brought by the other trustees or trustee of the society or branch.

Miscellaneous

104 Fees

(1) The Treasury may make regulations determining a scale of fees to be paid for matters to be transacted or for the inspection of documents under this Act.

(2) The Treasury may by order provide that on the registration of, or of any amendment of the rules of, a society of any description specified in paragraphs (a) to (e) of section 7(1) above, fees may be charged in accordance with a scale determined by the Treasury under subsection (1) above, but, except in so far as an order so provides, no fees shall be payable on the registration of, or of any amendment of the rules of, any such society.

(3) The power to make an order under subsection (2) above includes power to vary or revoke such an order by a further order so made.

(4) Any power to make an order under this section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument, and a statutory instrument made in the exercise of any such power shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(5) All fees received by the Chief or an assistant registrar under or by virtue of this Act shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

105 Exemptions from stamp duty

Stamp duty shall not be chargeable upon any of the following documents, that is to say—

(a) a letter or power of attorney granted by any person as trustee for the transfer of any money of a registered society or branch which is invested in his name in the public funds;

(b) a policy of insurance or appointment or revocation of appointment of an agent or other document required or authorised by this Act or by the rules of a registered society or branch.

106 Certificates of births and deaths for purposes of Act

(1) Applications for certificates of births and deaths for the purposes of this Act shall, in the case of births and deaths registered in England and Wales or in Scotland, be made in the form and under regulations approved by the Registrar General or, as the case may be, the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages for Scotland.

(2) A certificate, for the purposes of this Act, of the birth or death of any member of, or any person insured or to be insured with, a registered friendly society or branch shall on an application made as mentioned in subsection (1) above be given under his hand by the registrar of births or deaths for a sum not exceeding 15p, in place of all fees or payments otherwise payable in respect thereof.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2) above, the expression " registrar of births or deaths " includes any person having the care of the register of births or deaths in which the birth or death is entered.

107 Provision as to information supplied for purposes of national insurance and social security

(1) Subject to any exceptions or conditions prescribed by regulations of the Secretary of State, the Secretary of State shall at the request of any person claiming benefit from a registered friendly society or branch provide the society or branch for the purposes of the claim with a copy or abstract of any medical certificate relating to that person and supplied by him to the Secretary of State for purposes of the enactments relating to national insurance and social security.

(2) Where the Secretary of State furnishes a registered friendly society or branch, in connection with a claim for benefit from the society or branch, with information relating to a claim or award under those enactments, the expenses incurred in connection therewith by the Secretary of State or any other Government Department shall be treated as expenses in carrying those enactments into effect.

(3) Until the amendments of section 9 of the [1955 c. 19 (4 & 5 Eliz. 2).] Friendly Societies Act 1955 made by section 100(2)(a) of and paragraph 17 of Schedule 27 to the [1973 c. 38.] Social Security Act 1973 come into force the foregoing provisions of this section shall have effect as set out in Schedule 7 to this Act.

108 Protection for members of registered societies joining the forces

Any provision in the rules of a registered society or branch which purports to deprive persons of membership of the society or branch or of any interest therein by reason of their service in any of the naval, military or air forces of the Crown (which expression shall for the purposes of this section be treated, in the case of a woman, as including service in any of the capacities mentioned in Schedule 8 to this Act) shall be of no effect, and no person shall be fined for failure to attend any meeting of the society or branch or otherwise to comply with the rules thereof if the failure was due to his or her service as mentioned in this subsection.

109 Regulations

(1) The Treasury may make regulations with respect to—

(a) registration and procedure under this Act, including, subject to sections 41(1) and 43(6) of this Act, the forms to be used for any purpose under this Act;

(b) the seal to be used for registration;

(c) the duties and functions of the registrar; and

(d) the inspection of documents kept by the registrar under this Act;

and generally for carrying this Act into effect.

(2) Any power of the Treasury, the Secretary of State or the Chief Registrar to make regulations under this Act shall be exercisable by statutory instrument and a statutory instrument made in the exercise of any such power, other than an instrument containing only regulations under section 9 or 42 above, shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(3) The [1946 c. 36.] Statutory Instruments Act 1946 shall apply to any power of the Chief Registrar under this Act to make regulations by statutory instrument as if he were a Minister of the Crown.

110 Evidence and deposit of documents

(1) Every document bearing the seal or stamp of the central office shall be received in evidence without further proof.

(2) Every document purporting to be signed by the Chief or any assistant registrar, or any inspector or public valuer under this Act shall, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, be received in evidence without proof of the signature.

(3) All documents required by this Act to be sent to the registrar shall be deposited with the rules of the societies to which the documents respectively relate and shall be registered or recorded by the registrar, with such observations thereon, if any, as the Chief Registrar may direct.

111 Interpretation

(1) In this Act, unless a contrary intention appears,—

• " amendment of rule " includes a new rule and a resolution rescinding a rule;

• " annual return " shall be construed in accordance with section 43 above;

• " branch " means any number of the members of a society, under the control of a central body, having a separate fund administered by themselves or by a committee or officers appointed by themselves, and bound to contribute to a fund under the control of a central body;

• " the central registration area " has the meaning assigned to it by section 4(2) above ;

• " collecting society " has the same meaning as in the [1923 c. 8.] Industrial Assurance Act 1923 ;

• " committee " means the committee of management or other directing body of a society or branch;

• " the Companies Acts " means the Companies Acts 1948 to 1967 and any earlier enactment for the like purposes which has been repealed ;

• " exempt society " and " exempt branch " shall be construed in accordance with section 31 (4) above ;

• " Gazette ", in relation to a registered society or branch, means—

  (a)

  the London Gazette if the registered office of the society or branch is situated in the central registration area;

  (b)

  the Edinburgh Gazette if the registered office of the society or branch is situated in Scotland;

• " land " includes any interest in land and, in Scotland, heritable subjects of whatever description;

• " meeting " includes, where the rules of a society or branch so allow, a meeting of delegates appointed by members;

• " officer " includes any trustee, treasurer, secretary, or member of the committee of management of a society or branch or any person appointed by the society or branch to sue and be sued on its behalf;

• " persons claiming through a member " includes the nominees of the member where nomination is allowed;

• " property " extends to all property, whether real or personal, including books and papers and (in Scotland) to all heritable and moveable estate;

• " proposal ", in relation to an insurance, includes an application for an insurance;

• " qualified actuary " has the meaning assigned to it by section 9(3) above;

• " registered ", in relation to a society or branch, means registered under this Act or any other enactment (whether similar in extent to this Act or not) which at any time before the commencement of this Act made provision for registration similar to that made by this Act;

• " signed ", in relation to a body corporate means sealed; and

• " Treasury regulations " means any regulations made and approved by the Treasury and in force under this Act.

(2) Any reference in this Act to a particular type of society shall be construed in accordance with section 7(1) above.

(3) Any reference in this Act to the registrar for a registration area shall be construed—

(a) in relation to the central registration area as a reference to the central office; and

(b) in relation to Scotland as a reference to the assistant registrar for Scotland;

and any reference in this Act to the registrar, in relation to a society or branch, is a reference to the registrar for the registration area in which the registered office of the society or branch is for the time being, or is to be.

(4) In this Act " year of account" in relation to a registered society or branch, means, with respect to the year in which it is first registered, the period beginning with the date of registration and ending with 31st December of that year and, in any other case, a period of twelve months ending with 31st December; and—

(a) " the current year of account", in relation to the appointment of an auditor or auditors, means the year of account in which the question of that appointment arises; and

(b) "the preceding year of account" means the year of account immediately preceding the current year of account.

(5) In the application of this Act to Scotland "heritable security " means any security capable of being constituted over any interest in land by disposition or assignation of that interest in security of any debt, and of being recorded in the Register of Sasines.

(6) Without prejudice to section 115 below, references in this Act to a registered society or branch shall not include a society or branch registered in Northern Ireland.

(7) Except in so far as the context otherwise requires, any reference in this Act to any other enactment shall be taken as referring to that enactment as amended by or under any other enactment, including this Act.

112 Isle of Man

(1) Subject to any express provision of this Act with respect to the Isle of Man, this Act in its application to the Isle of Man shall have effect subject to such adaptations and modifications as Her Majesty may by Order in Council specify.

(2) Any Order in Council under subsection (1) above may be varied or revoked by a subsequent Order in Council so made.

113 Channel Islands

(1) Subject to any express provision of this Act with respect to the Channel Islands, this Act in its application to those Islands shall have effect subject to such adaptations and modifications as Her Majesty may by Order in Council specify.

(2) Any Order in Council under subsection (1) above may be varied or revoked by a subsequent Order in Council so made.

114 Payments to legal representative in Channel Islands and Isle of Man

Where any sum of money becomes payable on the death of a person entitled to make a nomination under this Act but domiciled in any of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, that sum shall, in default of any such nomination, be paid to the deceased's legal representative according to the law of the Island in which the deceased was domiciled.

115 Reciprocal application of legislation relating to societies registered in Northern Ireland and in other parts of the British Islands

(1) The Treasury may make reciprocal arrangements with the Department of Commerce for Northern Ireland or such other authority as may be specified for the purposes of this subsection by any Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly with a view to securing that, on and after the commencement of this Act,—

(a) the law applicable in England and Wales, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man to societies registered at the central office and the law applicable in Scotland to societies registered by the assistant registrar for Scotland may be applied, in such cases and subject to such modifications as may be provided in the arrangements, to societies registered in Northern Ireland; and

(b) the law applicable in Northern Ireland to societies registered there may be applied, in such cases and subject to such modifications as may be provided in the arrangements, to societies registered at the central office or by the assistant registrar for Scotland.

(2) The Treasury may make regulations for giving effect to any arrangements made under subsection (1) above, and such regulations may in particular—

(a) confer rights and obligations (appropriate to registered societies) under this Act on societies registered in Northern Ireland in such circumstances as may be specified in the regulations ;

(b) confer functions on the Chief Registrar, the central office and the assistant registrar for Scotland in relation to societies registered in Northern Ireland ; and

(c) make such modifications of this Act and the [S.R. & O 1922 No. 184.] Government of Ireland (Companies, Societies, etc.) Order 1922 as appear to the Treasury to be expedient to give effect to the arrangements.

(3) Any reference in this section to societies registered in Northern Ireland is a reference to societies which are registered or deemed to be registered in Northern Ireland under any enactment of the Parliament of Northern Ireland or any Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly corresponding, in either case, to this Act.

116 Amendments, transitory provisions and repeals

(1) The enactments specified in Schedule 9 to this Act shall have effect subject to the amendments specified in that Schedule.

(2) The transitory provisions in Schedule 10 to this Act shall have effect.

(3) The inclusion in this Act of any express saving or amendment shall not be taken as prejudicing the operation of section 38 of the [1889 c. 63.] Interpretation Act 1889 (which relates to the effect of repeals).

(4) Subject to subsection (2) above, the enactments specified in Schedule 11 to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule.

117 Short title, commencement and extent

(1) This Act may be cited as the Friendly Societies Act 1974.

(2) This section, sections 112, 113 and 115 above and so much of section 109 above as relates to regulations under section 115 shall come into operation on the passing of this Act and the other provisions of this Act shall come into operation on such day as the Treasury may by order made by statutory instrument appoint.

Any reference in this Act to the commencement of this Act is a reference to the day appointed under this subsection.

(3) This Act extends to the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands but does not extend to Northern Ireland.