of the surgeon or coroner to the effect that the death is not to be attributed to murder. A clause giving greater power to trustees or treasurers than they before possessed to invest the funds of the society; as it enables them to invest them on the security of county or borough rates, or on loan to a member of the society, on the security of a life policy to the extent of the value of such policy. A clause by which a person, who shall after the act become a member of more than one society, is prevented from receiving benefits on account of the same kind of assurance beyond in the aggregate the sum of 100%. or 30l. annuity, or a sum in sickness of 20s. per week. A clause by which payments not exceeding 50l. may be made in cases of members dying intestate without the expense of taking out letters of administration. A clause making it illegal to grant any assurance payable on the death of the member to any nominee. A clause prohibiting the investment of moneys with the National Debt Commissioners, by Societies formed under the repealed acts, except for assurances made before the passing of the act by any Society which has already invested its funds with the said Commissioners. A clause taking away the exemption from stamp duty to any society, assuring after the passing of this act, payment of a sum exceeding 1007. or of an annuity exceeding 301., or of a sum in sickness exceeding 20s. a week. A clause prohibiting a re-deposit of moneys with the National Debt Commissioners without the consent of the Comptroller-General. The new object for which a Friendly Society may be established under the present act, is for the purpose of enabling a member or any of his family to emigrate, which may be done, provided one of the trustees be a justice residing in the place where the society is established. The other objects for which a society may be established are the same as heretofore. The present act, however, limits the amount to be assured to 100%., or an annuity of 301., or a sum in sickness not exceeding 20s. a week. What we have above enumerated are the principal new provisions contained in the present act. The act is not to apply to any Benefit Building Society established under 6 & 7 Will. 4, c. 32, and so much of the repealed Friendly Societies Acts as relate to such Building Societies, are to remain in force. A doubt has been suggested whether this applies to Benefit Building Societies which may be hereafter established under 6 & 7 Will. 4, c. 32, or whether it is not confined to such only as are now so established; but we think it must be considered not to be so confined, but to apply to such Building Societies as may in future be so established. It is a question, however, not within the province of this work, which is merely an edition of the Friendly Societies Act; for the law of Benefit Building Societies we would refer the reader to the work on that subject by Mr. Thompson. Neither do we intend to enter into the financial question of Friendly Societies, as persons interested in their formation can peruse with advantage the second edition of the work of Mr. Scratchley, on Benefit and Emigration Societies. SUMMARY. 5. Separate accounts to be kept of money paid and received for each particular fund or benefit SECT. PAGE 1. Repeal of 10 Geo. 4, c. 56; 2 & 3 Will. 4, c. 37; 4 & 5 Will. 4, c. 40; 3 & 4 Vict. c. 73; 9 & 10 Vict. c. 27 2. Objects for which Friendly Societies may be established; act limited to societies not assuring above 1007., or annuity of 30%., or allowance of 20s. per week in sickness 3. No sum to be paid on the death of a child except for funeral; certificate of surgeon or coroner required before money is paid on death of a member 4. Power to repeal or alter rules, and appoint committee and officers.... 6. Society or branch not legally established till rules certified 8. Societies granting annuities to have tables of such annuities 9. Fees to be paid to registrar for certificates 10. Appointment and salary of registrar 11. Treasurer to give bond 12. Trustees, &c., to invest funds 13. Property vested in trustees; trustees may sue and be sued; no person to be deemed a trustee until his appointment shall have been forwarded to the registrar 12 14. Limitation of responsibility of treasurer, &c.; treasurer, &c., liable for money actually received 14 15. Trustees to transmit annual return to registrar 15 16. In default of such return, trustees to be incapable of bringing action 15 17. Quinquennial returns to be sent to registrar 16 18. Registrar prepare abstract of returns to be laid before Parliament... 16 19. When trustees shall be absent, &c., registrar may order stock to be transferred and dividends paid 17 20. Act to be an indemnity to the bank 18 21. Provisions of 39 Geo. 3, c. 79, and of 57 Geo. 3, c. 19, not to extend to Friendly Societies under this act 18 22. Disputes between society and trustees to be settled according SECT. to rules; questions of equity to be settled by County Court, PAGE 19 20 23. Rules for arbitration, where such is appointed by rules; justices may enforce the award ... 24. If no arbitrators appointed, or no award given, justices may 25. In case member is unjustly expelled, arbitrators or justices 27. Orders of justices to be final, and not removable into court of 28. Treasurers, &c. to render accounts, and upon demand pay over moneys, &c. to party appointed by society, &c.; and in case of neglect application may be made to the registrar, who shall proceed thereupon in a summary way 29. On such reference registrar may inspect books and administer 30. Orders, &c. to be binding without appeal 222 them 32. Member of Friendly Society may be a witness......... 34. Consent necessary for dissolution of society 35. Rules, &c. under hand of registrar to be received without proof of signature 36. Executors, &c. of officers of certified Friendly Societies to pay money due to society before any other debts, within forty days after demand in writing 31 37. Member belonging to more than one society not to be entitled to benefits exceeding 1007., or 301. annuity, or 20s. sickness 33 38. Power to certified societies to invest moneys with National Debt Commissioners, upon declaration that they belong exclusively to the society; in case declaration not true money to be forfeited and applied in manner directed by 9 Geo. 4, c. 92 33 39. Powers of attorneys, &c., not liable to stamp duty.. 35 35 41. Payments to persons who appear to trustees to be entitled to effects of deceased intestate members declared valid; but next-of-kin, &c., to have remedy against the party who receives the same 36 42. Payment on death of members to be made to executors, &c., and not to nominees 36 43. Existing Friendly Societies not to invest with National Debt Commissioners except for assurances made before passing of this act |