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  organization ­
  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  report ­
  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  discussion ­
  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  instance ­
  of  the  societies,  it  was  withdrawn  for  the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^.