228
APPENDIX OF CASES.
Act was in force, but after the passing of the Industrial
and Provident Societies Act, 1862 (25 & 26 Viet. c. 87), it
obtained a certificate of registration under it. The debt
sought to be recovered was incurred before the passing of
the last-mentioned Act, but the action was commenced
after. The case was tried before Martin, B., at West
minster, and a verdict was found for the plaintiff, leave
being reserved to the defendants to move to enter a nonsuit
if the court should be of opinion that they were not liable
in their corporate capacity.
Macnamam in this term moved to enter a nonsuit accord
ingly.
Gates now showed cause.
Martin, B.—We are all of opinion that this rule must
be made absolute. The case is governed by that of Dean v.
Millard. In that case the action was brought against the
individual members, and the court held that it was well
brought, on the ground that though for the sake of con
venience, before the late statute, the names of public officers
were to be used in actions against the society, yet the real
cause of action was against the individual members, and
they were ultimately liable. Williams, J., there says:—
“ That argument” (referring to the argument for the defend
ants) “ would have been admissible if the legislature, instead
of saying, as they have done in sect. 6, that the certificate
of registration shall vest in the society all the property
that may at the time be vested in any person in trust for
the society, and all legal proceedings then pending by or
against any such trustee or other officer on account of the
society may be prosecuted by or against the society in its
registered name without abatement, had gone on to say
that all claims and rights of action existing at the time of
the passing of the Act might be so prosecuted. But they
have not said so; they have confined the indulgence to
actions pending at the time of the obtaining of the certi
ficate of registration. That must mean actions commenced
before the passing of 25 & 26 Viet. c. 87, because none
could be commenced after against any but existing
members.” I was much struck by Mr. Gates’s argument
on the construction of the 6th section, but we cannot adopt
Iris construction in opposition to the Court of Common
Pleas.
Bramwell, B.—I was much struck with Mr. Gates’s
^argument on the 6th section that it could not be meant to