Friendly Societies Act 1974

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.