SECTION 75.-Evidence of Documents. Every document bearing the stamp of the central office, or purporting to be signed by any registrar, inspector, or public auditor, shall be received in evidence without further proof. SECTION 76.-Duties of the Registrars. Sub-sections 6, 7, 8, and 9, of section 10 of the Friendly Societies Act, 1875, are made to apply to the duties of the registrars in relation to industrial and provident societies. They are— (6). The Chief Registrar shall every year lay before Parliament a report of his proceedings and of those of the Assistant Registrars, and of the principal matters transacted by him and them and of the valuations returned to or caused to be made by the Registrar during the year preceding. (7). The Assistant Registrars shall, except as after provided, be subordinate to the Chief Registrar. They shall, within the countries for which they are respectively appointed, exercise all functions and powers by this Act given to the Registrar, and may also, by the written authority of the Chief Registrar, exercise such of the functions and powers by this Act given to the Chief Registrar as he shall from time to time delegate to them. (8). Subject to any regulations to be made under this Act, the Assistant Registrars for Scotland and Ireland respectively shall (a) Exercise all the functions and powers now vested in the registrars of friendly or building societies for Scotland and Ireland respectively, or as respects building societies and societies instituted for purposes of science, literature, or the fine arts, vested in Scotland in the Lord Advocate or his depute appointed to certify the rules of friendly societies there, or in Ireland in the barrister appointed to certify the rules of friendly societies there, and shall be entitled to receive all fees payable to such Registrar, Lord Advocate or his depute, or barrister respectively, and so that all provisions in any Acts of Parliament not hereby repealed relating to such Registrar, Lord Advocate or his depute, or barrister respectively, shall be construed as applying to such Assistant Registrars respectively: (b) Send to the central office copies of all such documents registered or recorded by them as the Chief Registrar shall from time to time direct: (c) Record all such documents and matters as shall be sent to them for record from the central office, and such other documents and matters as herein provided : (d) Circulate and publish, or transmit to or from societies registered within their respective countries, from or to the central office, such information and documents relating to the purposes of this Act as the Chief Registrar, with the approval of the Treasury, shall from time to time direct: (e) Report from time to time their proceedings to the Chiet Registrar as he shall direct. (9). No Assistant Registrar for Scotland or Ireland shall refuse to record any rules or amendments of rules which have been registered by the centi al office. SECTIONS 77 AND 78.-The Channel Islands. These sections make some variations in the general provisions of the Act so far as regards the Channel Islands. SECTION 79.-Interpretation and Definitions. The various terms used in the Act are here interpreted and defined. SECTION 80.-Repeals. By this section the following enactments are repealed, viz. : The Industrial and Provident Societies Act, 1876. The Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1880, Sec. 8. The Provident Nomination and Small Intestacies Act, 1883, so far as relates to Industrial and Provident Societies. In conclusion I desire, on behalf of the Co-operative Union, to express our grateful acknowledgments to all those gentlemen who, by their valuable assistance, have contributed towards the passing of the Act in its present form. First and foremost, our thanks are due to Mr. Geo. Howell, M.P., for his perseverance and energy in piloting the Bill through the House of Commons, and in like measure to our old and tried friend the Marquis of Ripon (Secretary for the Colonies) for similar service in the House of Lords. E. W. Brabrook, Esq., Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies, has from time to time given most valuable suggestions as to the construction of the Bill, while the Right Hon. Sir J. T. Hibbert (Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury) has bestowed the most painstaking consideration on the provisions of the Bill so far as the Treasury Department is concerned. Cancelling and Suspension of Registry. 9. Cancelling and suspension of registry. Rules. 10. Rules and amendments. Duties of Registered Societies. 11. Registered office. 12. Publication of name. 13. Audit. 14. Annual returns. 15. Supply of copies of annual returns. 16. Copy of last balance sheet. Inspection of Books. 17. Inspection of books by members. Banking by Societies. 19. Conditions of banking by societies. Returns and Documents. 20. Form and deposit of documents. Privileges of Societies. 21. Incorporation of society with limited liability. 22. Rules to bind members. 23. Remedy for debts from members. 24. Exemption from income tax. 25. Power of nomination for sums not exceeding one hundred pounds. 26. Proceedings on the death of a nominator. 27. Provisions for intestacy. 28. Probate duty to be paid where the whole estate exceeds one hundred pounds. 29. Power to deal with property of insane or lunatic member. 30. Payments to persons apparently entitled valid. 31. Transfer of stock standing in name of trustee. 32. Membership of minors. 33. Promissory notes and bills of exchange. 34. Register of members or shares. 35. Contracts how made, varied, or discharged. Property and Funds of Registered Society. 36. Holding of land. 37. Provision as to copyholds. 38. Investments by societies. 39. Power to invest in savings banks. 40. Advances to members. 41. Societies members of other bodies corporate may vote by proxy. 42. Any body corporate may hold shares in a society. |