38  &  39  Vict.  Cap.  60,  s.  25.

97

tlie  grounds  upon  which,  such  insufficiency  is
alleged,  and  requesting  an  investigation  into  the
affairs  of  such  society  with  a  view  to  the  dissolution ­
  thereof,  the  chief  registrar  may  by  himself,
or  by  any  assistant  registrar,  or  hy  any  actuary  or
public  auditor  whom  the  chief  registrar  may  appoint ­
  in  writing  under  his  hand,  investigate  the
affairs  of  the  society,  giving  nevertheless  not  less
than  two  months  previous  notice  in  writing  to  the
society  whose  affairs  are  to  be  investigated  at  the
registered  office  of  such  society  (c):
(b.)  If  upon  such  investigation  it  appears  that  the  funds
of  the  society  are  insufficient  to  meet  the  existing
claims  thereon,  or  that  the  rates  of  contribution
fixed  in  the  rules  of  the  society  are  insufficient  to
cover  the  benefits  assured  to  he  given  by  the  same,
the  chief  registrar  may,  if  he  considers  it  expedient ­
  so  to  do,  award  that  the  society  shall  be
dissolved,  and  its  affairs  wound  up,  and  shall  direct
in  what  manner  the  assets  of  the  society  shall  be
divided  or  appropriated:  provided  always,  that
the  chief  registrar  may  suspend  his  award  for  such
period  as  he  may  deem  necessary  to  enable  the
society  to  make  such  alterations  and  adjustment
of  contributions  and  benefits  as  will  in  his  judgment ­
  prevent  the  necessity  of  such  award  of  dissolution ­
  being  made  (d):
(c.)  A  registrar  proceeding  under  this  section  has  all  the
same  powers  and  authorities,  enforceable  by  the
same  penalties,  as  in  the  case  of  a  dispute  referred
to  him  under  this  Act  (e):

(e)  This  provision  is  similar  to  23  &  24  Viet.  c.  58,  s.  1,  but
the  number  of  members  who  may  make  application  to  the  registrar ­
  is  reduced  from  five-eighths  to  one-fiftli  (or  less  in  a  large
society),  and  insufficiency  of  funds  is  more  clearly  defined.  See
Treasury  regulations  45  to  48  and  Forms  AM  to  AQ.
(d)  See  23  &  24  Vict.  c.  58,  s.  1.  The  power  to  suspend  the
,  award  is  new.  It  was  acted  upon  by  the  chief  registrar  in  a  case
recorded  in  his  Eeport  for  1876,  p.  33.
(e)  This  provision  is  new.
F