§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. R, W. HANBURY, Preston) moved the Second Reading of the Friendly Societies Bill—a Measure which, he said, had been unanimously approved by the conference of friendly societies, together with a strong expression, that it might be allowed to pass this Session. It was entirely and wholly a consolidation Bill, and there was nothing in it altering the existing law. A Bill to consolidate the Friendly Societies Acts was badly needed. ["Hear, hear!"] Nearly eight millions of members of the friendly and collecting societies were affected by this Bill and the next Bill on the Paper (the Collecting Societies Bill). The Bills, in their different clauses, followed a much more logical order, and made it more easy for the members to know the particular points affecting them. The law relating to the two societies was dealt with in different Bills. As everybody knew, there was a broad distinction between the friendly and the collecting societies. To take only one point which occurred to him, the amount of capital belonging to each member in the case of the collecting societies only amounted to 14s. a head on the average, while in the case of the friendly societies it was more than £5. It would be extremely useful that the confusion existing between the two societies should be put an end to, and the law with regard to them made distinct.
§ Read a Second time, and committed to the Joint Committee on Statute Law Revision, Etc., Bills.
§ Message to the Lords to acquaint them therewith.—(Mr. Hanbury.)