INTRODUCTION.

15

by  providing  for  the  change  of  name  of  a  Friendly
Society,  by  authorizing  proceedings  to  he  taken
against  the  secretary  or  other  officer  on  behalf  of
the  society,  and  in  other  less  important  particulars.
22.  By  the  23  &  24  Viet.  c.  58  (1860),  further
amendments  were  made,  enabling  the  Registrar  to
dissolve  an  insolvent  society,  to  enforce  annual
returns  from  societies,  and  to  make  application  to
justices  in  case  of  misappropriation  of  funds.
23.  By  29  Yict.  c.  34  (1866),  further  facilities
were  given  for  the  establishment  of  societies  for
the  assurance  of  cattle  and  other  animals,  by  which
such  assurances  were  permitted  without  limit  of
amount,  and  the  contributions  were  made  recoverable ­
  as  a  debt.
24.  By  a  Bill  introduced  to  the  House  of  Commons ­
  on  10th  February,  1870  (a),  it  was  proposed
to  amend  the  laws  relating  to  Friendly  Societies  by
abolishing  the  certificate  of  the  Registrar  and
transferring  the  duties  of  the  Registrar  to  the
Board  of  Trade,  or  where  they  are  of  a  judicial
character,  to  a  local  judge.
25.  This  Bill  did  not  become  law;  but  on  29th
October,  1870,  Her  Majesty  issued  a  commission  (b)
under  the  Royal  Sign  Manual  “  to  enquire  into
(a)  Shortly  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Tidd  Pratt,  the  first
Registrar.
(b)  The  Commissioners  were  the  Right  Hon.  Sir  Stafford
H.  Northcote,  Bart.,  C.B.,  Sir  M.  E.  Hicks-Beacli,  Bart.,
Alderman  Sir  S.  H.  AVaterlow,  J.  Bonham-Cavter,  Esq.,
E.  M.  Richards,  Esq.,  C.  S.  Roundel!,  Esq.,  F.  T.  Bircham,
Esq.,  and  AY.  P.  Pattison,  Esq.  J.  M.  Ludlow,  Esq.,  was
secretary  to  the  Commission.  An  amended  Commission
was  issued  on  17th  August,  1871  ;  and  four  Assistant  Commissioners ­
  were  appointed  in  the  same  year.