7!)
38 & 39 Viot. Cap. 60, s. 16.
assurance, or separately to tlie like effect, ■which certificate
shall be received in evidence in all courts and proceedings
•without further proof, and such registrar, recording officer,
steward, or keeper of the register is entitled to a fee of two
shillings and sixpence for making the said entry and grant
ing the said certificate, and such fee shall in Ireland be paid
by stamps, and applied as the other fees of the Registry of
Deeds Office and Record of Title Office are by law directed
to be paid and applied (c).
(9.) Punishment of fraud or misappropriation.—It any
person obtains possession by false representation or imposi
tion of any property of a society [or branch], or having the
same in his possession withholds or misapplies the same, or
wilfully applies any part thereof to purposes other than
those expressed or directed in the rules of the society [or
branch], and axrthorized by this Act, he shall, on the com
plaint of the society [or branch], or of any member autho
rized by the society [or branch], or the trustees or com
mittee of management of the same, or by the central office,
or of the chief registrar or any assistant registrar by his
authority, be liable on summary conviction to a penalty
not exceeding twenty pounds and costs, and to be ordered
to deliver up all such property, or to repay all moneys
applied improperly, and in default of such delivery or re
payment, or of the payment of such penalty and costs
aforesaid, to be imprisoned, with or without hard labour,
for any time not exceeding three months; but nothing
herein contained prevents any such person from being pro
ceeded against by way of indictment, if not previously con
victed of the same offence under the provisions of this Act (d).
(c) See note (5), p. 78, ante.
(d) This is a re-enactment of sect. 24 of 18 & 19 Viet. c. 63,
as amended by 23 & 24 Viet. c. 58, s. 9, with the important
further amendment that the complaining member need not be, as
heretofore, authorized by a general meeting, but may be autho
rized by the society, the trustees, or the committee of manage
ment, or the central office. The form of declaration required by
the central office before granting an authority is given in the
Appendix. To render the treasurer of a society liable to the
penalties imposed by this section, for withholding or misapplying