return one copy to the society, and transmit the other to the clerk of the peace, by whom they were to be enrolled and preserved for safe custody and inspection. A like course was to be pursued upon the society altering any of its rules. Notice of any alteration in its place of meeting was to be given by the society to the clerk of the peace. This, however, was all that any person representing the State had to do with the affairs of a Benefit Building Society, until it reached the Court of Chancery in a compulsory winding up. No returns were required from the societies, nor had they access to any central office, at which their document would be recorded, other than that of the clerk of the peace for the county.

XIX. The Act of 1874 has altered this state of things, both with respect to subsisting societies and to societies established after its passing commencement.

It provides (sect. 7) that all things required to be done by or sent to the barrister or advocate and the clerk of the peace, under the provisions of 6 & 7 Will. 4, c. 32 (the Building Societies Act of 1836), shall be done by or sent to the Registrar of Friendly Societies (sect. 3) on and after the 2nd November, 1874 (sect. 2). With regard to all societies established after that date, and to all subsisting societies which obtain a certificate of incorporation under it, the new Act repeals the 6 & 7 Will. 4, c. 32, ss. 7-13, and confers the following additional powers and functions upon the Registrar of Friendly Societies :

1. To apply for and receive from the clerks of the

peace of every county, riding, or division, city or borough, liberty or place, all transcripts of the rules of societies certified and enrolled under 6 & 7 Will. 4, c. 32, now filed with the rolls of the sessions of the peace; and henceforth to keep and register such transcripts, and, upon application, to grant a certificate of incorporation to every such society (sect. 10.)

2. To accept from any subsisting society, the transcript of whose rules is not received from the clerk of the peace, a copy of its rules; to require such authentication thereof by statutory declaration as may appear to him to be necessary, and thereupon to grant a certificate of incorporation to such society (sect. 11).

3. To require of every person making an application for a certificate of incorporation for any

society, evidence by statutory declaration of his authority to do so (sect. 12.)

4. To receive from the persons intending to establish a society under the Act, two signed copies of their rules; to examine whether such rules contain all the provisions set forth (under 14 heads) in sect. 16 of the Act, and are in conformity with the Act; if so, to return one copy to the society with a certificate of incorporation, and to retain and register the other copy: provided that he is

not to register a new society in a name identical with or too closely resembling that of a society already registered (sect. 17).

5. To receive from every society altering, adding, or rescinding a rule, two signed copies of the alteration, addition, or rescission, with a statutory declaration; to examine whether it is in conformity with the Act; if so, to return one copy to the society with a certificate of registration, and to retain and register the other copy (sect. 18).

6. To grant certificates and documents which shall, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, be received as evidence without proof of

signature (sect. 20).

7. To receive from any society changing its name notice of such change; to examine whether the new name is identical with or too closely resembles that of any other registered society; and, if not, to register the change and give a certificate of registration (sect. 22).

8. To receive from any society having stock in the Bank

of England (or Ireland) an application for its
transfer from any absent, bankrupt, insolvent,
lunatic, or deceased trustee-to require proof
of the facts-and, when satisfied, to direct
the transfer of the stock into the names of
any
other persons as trustees by the surviving
or continuing trustees, or by the officer of the
bank (sect. 26).

9. To receive from any society dissolved by consent copies of the instrument of dissolution and of any alterations therein, and to register them in the same manner as the rules of the society; and to receive and register notice. of the commencement and termination of every dissolution or winding up of a society (sect. 32).

10. To receive from any society uniting with, or

transferring its engagements to another,

notice of the union or transfer, and to register it (sect. 33).

11. To determine disputes in any society whose rules direct disputes to be referred to him,

or when the parties to the dispute agree to refer it to him (sect. 34).

12. To make a final and binding award on any dispute so referred, or to state a case for the opinion of the supreme court on any question of law; to grant to either party any discovery that might be granted by a court of law or equity, and to determine by what officer of the society discovery shall be made (sect. 36).

13. To receive from every society a copy of its

annual account and statement within fourteen

days after the meeting at which it is presented (sect. 40).

14. To make complaint, before justices, of any

society, established after 2nd November,

1874, or persons, acting as such without being duly incorporated, or making default in forwarding returns or information, or in inserting in deposit books or acknowledgements or securities for loan the matters required by sect. 15 of the Act or making wilfully false returns, and to recover penalty not exceeding £5 for every offence (sect. 43).

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15. To require payment of such fees as the Secretary of State appoints for the registration and inspection of documents; and to give certificates in the form contained in the schedule to the Act (sect. 44).

X. Hitherto the only duties of the barrister in respect to Benefit Building Societies have been :— 1. To receive from the persons intending to establish a society under the 6 & 7 Will. 4, c. 32, two signed copies of their rules, to examine whether the rules were in conformity with law and with the provisions of that statute; if so, to return one copy to the society with a certificate to that effect, and to send the other copy to the clerk of the peace.

2. To receive from every society altering, adding, .

or rescinding a rule, two signed copies of the alteration, addition, or rescission, with a statutory declaration, to examine whether it