spect to which are receivable at greater periodical intervals than two months. Clause 31 applies exclusively to cattle insurance societies, and such specially authorized societies as the Treasury allow to take the benefit of the Act. Clause 32 imposes a penalty, not exceeding £50, recoverable at the suit of the chief or any assistantregistrar, or of any person aggrieved, upon the falsification of any balance-sheet, contribution, or collecting book, &c.; and a penalty of not less than £1, or more than £5, upon any offence under the Act for which no penalty is expressly provided. All penalties imposed under, or by virtue of, the Act are recoverable in a court of summary jurisdiction. Then clause 33 points out the courts of summary jurisdiction in which proceedings are to be taken in England, Scotland, or Ireland respectively; and also gives an appeal from any order or conviction of such a court-in England or Ireland to the Quarter Sessions, and in Scotland to the Court of Justiciary, or any circuit court thereof. Proceedings before the county courts are the subject of clause 34. Under clause 35 the Treasury are empowered from time to time to appoint public auditors and valuers for the purposes of the Act, and to determine the rates of remuneration to be paid by societies for their services. The employment of such auditors and valuers is not, however, to be compulsory on any society. Clauses 36, 37, and 38 empower the Treasury to fix the fees payable under the Act, to provide for the payment of the salaries and expenses of the registrar, &c., and to make regulations respecting registry and pro cedure under the Act. By clause 39 any instrument or document, copy or extract of an instrument or document, bearing the seal or stamp of the central office, is to be received in evidence without further proof; and every document purporting to be signed by the chief or any assistantregistrar, or any inspector or public auditor under the Act, is, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, to be received in evidence without proof of the signature. Clauses 40 and 41 vary the provisions of the Act in certain particulars, so far as it is applicable to the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. To the Act there are appended four schedules. The first sets forth the Act and parts of Acts repealed; the second prescribes the matters to be provided for by the rules of societies registered under the Act; the third and fourth give forms of bonds, receipt and acknowledgment of registry. 38 & 39 VICT., CAP. 60. [11th August, 1875.] An Act to consolidate and amend the Law relating to Friendly and other Societies. WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate and amend the law relating to friendly and certain other societies:: Be it enacted by the Queen's most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1. Short title of Act.-This Act may be cited as "The Friendly Societies Act, 1875." 2. Commencement of Act.-This Act shall come into operation as to sections 10, 37, and 38, on the passing of the Act, and as to the remainder of the Act on the first day of January one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, which day is hereinafter referred to as the commencement of this Act. 3. Extent of Act.-This Act extends to Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. 4. Definitions. In this Act, if not inconsistent with the context, the following terms have the meanings hereinafter respectively assigned to them: "The Treasury" means the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury: England" includes the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man (except as hereinafter provided) : "The Registrar" means for England the central "Country" means England, Scotland, or Ireland, The several ridings of the county of York, the counties: "Land" includes hereditaments, and in Scotland heritable subjects, of whatever description, and chattels real: "Property" means all real and personal estate 66 66 any 33 & 34 Vict. c. 61. Under that Act the term company is defined to mean any persons, corporate or incorporate, not being registered under the Acts relating to friendly societies, who assure, or are liable under policies of insurance upon human life within the United Kingdom, or who grant annuities upon human life within the United Kingdom." Such a company granting assurances to the amount and on the terms specified in the present clause is an "Industrial Assurance Company." twenty pounds, and which receives premiums or contributions in Great Britain or Ireland, by means of collectors, at less periodical intervals than two months: "Amendment of rule" includes a new rule, and a resolution rescinding a rule: "Rules" means rules for the time being: "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 : "Persons claiming through a member" includes the heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns of a member, and also his nominees where nomination is allowed: "Collector" includes every paid officer, agent, or person, howsoever remunerated, who, by himself or by any deputy or substitute, collects contributions for a society, or holds any interest in a collecting book of the same, but does not include (a.) The secretary or other officer of a branch of a society who receives contributions on behalf of such society, or of any other branch of the same; (b.) Any officer appointed to superintend and receive moneys from collectors within a specified area, and not being himself a collector as herein before defined; (c.) Any agent appointed and remunerated by members and not |