MR. ACLANDasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Whether his 699 attention has been called to the fact that the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies has directed that a Memorandum shall be attached to the annual return for the year ending the 31st December 1881, of the Independent Mutual Brethren Friendly Society, stating as follows:—
And, if so, whether sufficient grounds exist for the interference of the Treasury in order to protect the members of the said society from the consequences of the possible continuance of such mismanagement and deceptive statements by those who are responsible for the conduct of the finances of the said society?
The item of expenditure (benefit funds) "Loan to Management Fund (balance of £756 13s. 6d.) £438 17s. 7d" is deceptive, and should have stood as follows:— £ s. d. Arrears of interest on investment of Benefit Funds 39 18 3 Amount of defalcations by Secretaries (included in the receipts of both funds) against whom proceedings have been taken— On account of Benefit Fund £271 2 3 On account of Management Fund 54 4 6 325 6 9 Amount of defalcations in Head Office 73 12 7
§ MR. HERBERT GLADSTONE (for Mr. COURTNEY)Sir, the attention of the Treasury has been called to the proceedings of this society by Questions from my hon. Friend and otherwise; and the action of the Chief Registrar appears to the Treasury to be fully justified. But the whole spirit of the Friendly Societies Act of 1875 is to leave the initiation of proceedings in the hands of members of an offending society, the sole duty of the Government being to see that a remedy is possible.