INTRODUCTION.

37

71.  This  opinion,  which  we  expressed  in  the
edition  of  this  Work  published  upon  the  passing
of  the  Act,  received  striking  confirmation  in  the
following  session  of  parliament  by  the  introduction ­
  of  a  bill  for  the  regulation  of  Industrial  and
Provident  Societies,  at  the  instance  of  the  Cooperative ­
  Central  Board,  framed  on  the  Friendly
Societies  Act  of  1875,  and  having  the  avowed
and  excellent  object  of  making  the  law  with
regard  to  the  two  classes  of  Societies  as  nearly
uniform  as  the  essential  differences  between  them
would  allow.  It  is  much  to  be  desired  that  the
same  treatment  might  be  applied  to  the  several
other  forms  of  association  with  which  the  Registry
Office  for  Friendly  Societies  has  to  deal,  such  as
Building  Societies,  Trade  Unions,  Savings  Banks,
and  Loan  Societies.  The  not  unnatural  indisposition ­
  of  the  officials  and  members  towards  any
alteration  in  the  procedure  to  which  they  have
been  accustomed  for  years  would  soon,  we  are
persuaded,  give  way  to  satisfaction  at  the  practical ­
  improvements  that  would  result;  and  the
many  excellent  provisions  of  the  Friendly  Societies
Acts  for  protecting  the  rights  of  members  would,
when  understood  and  acted  upon,  greatly  increase
public  confidence  in  any  institutions  to  which
they  were  applied.
72.  The  bill  referred  to  passed  into  law  as
“  The  Industrial  and  Provident  Societies  Act,
1876  ”  (a),  and  it  constitutes  the  text  of  Part  III.
in  this  volume.  The  main  point  of  difference

(a)  39  &  40  Yict.  c.  45.