THE FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' ACT.

Evening Star, Issue 4146, 10 June 1876, Page 2

THE FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' ACT.

The following memorandum shows such of the provisions of the proposed friendly Societies’ Bill as .differ from those of the existing Act of 1867 : The proposed Bill has been drafted onthe model of the recent English Statute (38 and 38 Vic.. o. 60, 1875) consolidating the law relating to meudly societies, being in fact a reprint of all the danses of that Act, except those providing for the appointment of assistant registrars, those relating to the constitution of the central dffioe, and snob as are of purely local application. -All the materia] provisions of the present law are incorporated m the - Bill, excepting those relating to the appointment-of the registrar and revising barristers, for which others are. substituted. Existing 'societies whose rules have been duly registered under any Act relating to friendly societies are to be deemed societies registered under the new Act, in so far as their rules, are not repugnant to its provisions. The BUI classifies the various societies that may register under, and he subject to its provisions, under the following heads* 1. Friendly societies; being those established - tor the usual purpose of such societies— Viz., founding by voluntary subscriptions >f the members a fund for the relief of members and their families in sickness, dis-„ tressed circumstances, or eld age; payment'' of money on birth of child, and funeral «x----pensea, Ac.; insurance against fire to a~ limited extent of the tools or implements of trade of themembers, &c.. 2. Cottle insurance'sodeties p for the insurance to any amount against loss of cattle, sheep, &c., by disease or otherwise. -. i 3. Benevolent or charitable societies. ' i. Working men’s clubs: for purposes of social intercoruse, mutual helpfulness, mental and moral improvement, and rational irecreation. 5. Societies ior any like purpose which the Governor may specially authorise. The Bill provides for the appointment of a Registrar of Friendly Societies, and that there shall be attached to his officefsuch assistants skilled in the business of an actuary and an accountant as maybe required for enabling him to discharge the duties . imposed upon him. These duties will be chiefly The preparation for the use of societies of model forms of accounts, balance-sheets, and valuations. The collection and compiling from. returns; in-. formation on.the subject of the statistics of life and aiokess, atd other information of a like nature useful to societies. The construction Cud publication of tables for the payment of sums of money on death, sickness, or old age, or on any other jeontmgenoy. ; These forms, tables, ®c., will be ciroulated and distributed amongst societies, and it will be optional on their part to adopt them. Registration is obtained in the following manner: Application is made, in writing, to the Registrar, signed by seven members and the secretary, forwarding copy of the rules, together with a list of the names of the secretary, trustees, and other officers of society. In addition to the matters by the present Act required totrbe prescribed by the rules, tbo new Act will render it compulsory on the part of societies to make provision in their rules—For the mode of holding meetings and the right of voting; iucase of a society with branches, the composition of tt e central' body, and the conditions under which a branch may secede; a yearly audit; the inspection of the books of the society by any person having an interest in it; 'the voluntary dissolution of the society by consent; and the right of a proportionate number of the members to apply to the Registrar for an investigation. of the' affairs of the society. Instead of there being a number of revhing barristers throughout the Colony, as at present, a permanent revising barrister will be appointed by the, Governor, who will bo attached to the Registrar’s office. The rules, aud any amending rules subsequently passed, will be submitted by|tbe Registrar to sucb revising barrister, for his certificate. Toe Registrar, on being satisfied from the ie; ort of .the revising barrister that the proceedings .of the society aud the rules comply with the Act, issues an acknowledgment of registry,. which is gazetted, and the society becomes duly registered. No,, society assuring to a member a certain annuity(unless the tables of Contributions for such assurance ate sent to.the Registrar wfrAthe application to xegUter, aftd vra certified bythaidtwy)tittO

be entitled

the payment of an annul in' Ueno na a grdsS itmof lloOj than Lso‘*y«at from Dividing societies^ np<m uilieXly at the time thTlra^"^,. >laoe. Provision it when it appears the todatßeilSfefieir as" illegal purpose orviolstee provirionfCf Act. / The following duties and obi igations Ata, amooget others, imposed on societies t Once m erery year to submit aooonnts for audit to pnbuo auditors appointed by the Governor for that purpOSS. OndQ In every year to send toßedStlttu return (to be ouled the animal return) of the re> oeipts and exPenditure.-funds-aßd AffSCtfi of society as audited, which shall ShOW~nMa> Mtely the expenditure. in respect of See MVftal Objects <of thfleociety.-y' To send into the fieglitrar every fire yeuS d retum (tO CT, the qulnqneimial 'retain) of the sickllMS and UortlUtyUM* rienoed by the society during the preceding five years, an abstracts©! which shallot laid before both Honaes.6l tbetfeneial Assembly: the first of tutih retunmtofbe sent in within six months from thfßist December next. . T'Once at least in every fiveyears afteroonmnnoe* meut of Act or registry of society, to SWUM their assets and liabilities tbhMalui'by a valuer appointed by the Oovernpr, who shall send a report to the-Bodstatf' ohthe condition of tne sodetyitad tae resnlttrf of hia valuation, together with a return as to the benefits assw ed and contributions receivable by the Mriety/ifefphd* And ' effects, debts nndoredits, If reqaireobythe ■ Begistva*. of snob report and valuation to bo mat.vo the eociety. ~ -■ A. The BcgUtiar may, however, with the approval W the Goveihor, dispense with the, larttWO oIPUSsm retains in certain eases. Nbaum of money shall be paid on the death of any jntmber except on promotion Of the certificate Of the Eegisteac of Sirihsaad Deaths. It will be an offence under the Ajrttffor which a flne of LSO nay be ImpOMp, if Th 6 foiTCOlng provisions as to duties and'bblUatiohs hire BOt octalplied with, and such; offence Isrta lm'deenncLan offence on the part of the officers oftae ■ As to investments by the society, the, truftew are empowered, with oonaent of committee, tbjtttaat •their funds in the purohaseof land to any extent, in addition to the ready provided for. The provision at present in force respecting loans of the Society to its members, of not more than halt of the amount Of ranee on the life .of a member onpns standing, is retained, and in addithm vheretbaTro- . vision is inserted enabling a society, eat' of tay. separate loon fund to be formed by oontribntionSjor deposits of ite mombers, to make loans to its members on their personal security,’with oT sureties. - No such loan canbe made nut of moneys contributed for other purposes of .the eociety; .No member shall be Capable of holding an intetaet'ln such loan fund exceeding L2OO, and no Sudh lOaa with personal security to-exceedJUK). : , The Begistrar is empowered, on the MpUmtiOn of a proportionate number of the rmembefAind with the consent of the Governor, to appoint an ln« speotor to examine into the affeirSot aeodietyLtor to eaU a special meeting of the sodpiy at snob-time , and plaee.as he' may direct, may Uto|Oßeot what matters shall at -such meeting be duoittsed and detormined. The applicants forsnohliapeotion or meeting.piußt however show ta&ttheyiite - , not actuated by mdtdVto ltt thmuupUoation, and that they have good reabbn he . In addition to the provision ofthe ,present Act empowering a society to amalgsnmte ' or other societies, the Bill enables,* s:«»etyt6 convert itself into a joint stock oohiptmy. In addition to the present provisions aßto f f consent **of mem* hers for a dissolution, eodOties, may, be diatohed upon the happening of any event deolaxedhyjShe rules to be the termination of the Bodaty i'wwy the award of the Begistrar. : , ; grsIn the case of dissolution by Consent* pro is made for an. “ instrument of.- distolutfen," In pfeoe of the agreement for dissolution, to which the Bignatures ofthe members oonsentingShall be attached, and which shall set forth—

(a.) Theliabilities.and assets of the society in detail. (b.) Number of members end the natnre'oftheir interests. *• /' • - (c.) Claims of creditors sad provision made for . ’ theirpaymeUtl (d.) The intended appropriation or division of the funds, unless it is Intended to leave this to the award of ths Registrar. The instrument of dissolution is to be registered in manner provided for registration .of rules, and the dissolution of the society is gazetted and £nb* listed by the Registrar at the expense IhP me society. In ths oase of dissolution by the award of the Registrar :—On the application pt a specified proportion of tiie members of a--society in wrltibg, setting forth that thO funds of the society.. are insufficient to meet the exutiag oMms, or Gad the rates of contribution are sufficient tobover the benefits assnred, and requesting an investigation into the affairs of the society with a view to this dissolution thereof, the Registrar* ymay t either himself or: by an actuary appointed, hyhim, investigate the affairs of the society. and, if he don* eiders it advisable after such investigation, faemay award that the society be dissolved, directing in what manner -the asset*, bf the society shall be dividedarappropriated. ■ n No member, snail be entitled <m the deatliAof a ’’ to^i7e more tnan x« pr JiUxespeotimlyi pa the nase may be, from all the societies.of.Which he a and such payments «hnM only be mads on the production of the certificate of the Registrar of C Births and DeathsfOr the. district. ' ■ Special provisions aretoade for the registration ' having branches. Provision is made .wito'xßifpoojt to Prittsiiyßo. cieties;— ' ■’ ' ' s ; f For BeCnring to aaoh members oorreotoppy of * the rules, and (on hia insuring With'' the society) of the polity, ata l nominal price. No forfeiwe iB Inotared'by any member by reason of default in payment of Attribution until 3a notice inWriting to dtteoh has been delivtoed to Mm. •’ ■ r ‘ sr ~' r ~ } . No member cli or . person insured with any so* . ciety shall beoome pr be made a member of or insured in any other aodety wiffittaiE hfa ... . jimfcten oonsent. No collector shall' be an officer ■pd-thosodety. or be capableof voting ut or mJdakaSSftin any meetings of the same. . r fl* At least one general;:moetihg,phall beheld in A copy of inspection at the office of the society seVen days previously!*) the meetings* Which ftfflntobrpreseated. some annnslretnrnsshall be. certified to by an accountant not being an ,the society otherwise than as an auditor. In bfflf may, in addition to^thn for "pnte wb o -inayotosSte»ha4fdetomine same. ' As te cattle insurance societies, the following provisions Ore to hare effect : ' Ruled are to be binding oh « inenibterte the same extentas if sealed bylsnch member and thero ' were a covenant tfa&k should be btodiug on himself, his heirs, executors, and adnunistnu -tors., .. , ;-" are to be recovered ina Court of law. > <■. Penalties tee- impeded - fofcislslfrlng books, accounts, balance sheets, Ac., and under the Justices pf thePeaoe Act. The Governor is empowered toappelnt fcffilltors and valuers, and to determine.a scale olfees for matters to bo transacted under the Apt • but no fees shall be payable on registry of anymtadly, benevolent, cattle insurant* UOCletyvor "Storking men’s club; and the expenses Of the regista-Woffice, assistants, clerks* Ao-yAo., AhelLta4rinas&ont of moneys appropriated tor that ‘purpose ly tbs General Assembly.