16 
IN Tit O DUCT ION. 
the existing state of the law relating to Friendly 
Societies, and to enquire into and report upon the 
operation of the Acts relating to Friendly Societies 
and Benefit Building Societies, and the organiza 
tion or general condition of societies established 
under such Acts respectively, and upon the office 
and duties of the Registrar of Friendly Societies, 
with power to suggest any improvements to be made 
in the law with respect to the matters aforesaid.” 
26. The Commissioners, after collecting a vast 
amount of valuable evidence, made their final re 
port in the year 1874. This important document, 
occupying 216 folio pages, affords for the first time 
means for a comprehensive survey of Friendly 
Societies, their history and present condition, their 
beneficial action and their many defects. The 
scope of the present work does not admit the dis 
cussion of these matters, or permit us to do more 
than state the amendments in the law which have 
resulted from the labours of the Commission. 
27. A Bill was introduced in 1874 to carry out 
the recommendations of the commissioners. After 
undergoing considerable modification at the in 
stance of the societies, it was withdrawn for the 
session («), and in 1875 the present Act, 38 & 39 
Yict. c. 60, was passed. The foot-notes to the 
several sections point out in what respects it 
altered the law; but it may be convenient here 
to give a brief summary of its provisions. 
28. By this Act, the registry of societies in the 
(a) The withdrawal of the Bill of 1874 is to he regretted, 
as it had for one object the harmonizing of the law relating 
to all societies capable of regist^.