§ MR. W. J. GALLOWAY (Manchester, S.W.)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he is aware of the widespread dissatisfaction there exists with regard to the compulsory declaration, to be made before a Justice of the Peace by friendly societies' officials as a preliminary to the registration by the Friendly Societies' Registry Office of amendments of rules; and, whether the Treasury will undertake either to make a new Treasury Regulation under the authority of Section 38 of the Friendly Societies Act, 1875, abolishing such declaration; or, if this course is not practicable, to amend the Oaths Act, or other Act dealing with this matter, so that this requirement may be done away with?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI am not aware that there is widespread dissatisfaction on this subject. There may, of course, be occasionally some difficulty in remote country places in the attendance of friendly societies' officials before a Justice of the Peace, but that cannot be considered as sufficient justification for the abolition of 61 a regulation which is the only protection to the members of a friendly society against the registration of amendments not duly made by the society.