§ MR. O'GRADYI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether he is aware that there is a tendency for some of the committees of management of the collecting friendly societies to convert those institutions into proprietary or mutual companies; and, having regard to the injury such conversions would cause to the interests of the members, as well as being subversive of their rights, whether he will appoint a Select Committee to inquire into the whole question of the collecting friendly societies with a view to recommending Amendments of the Friendly Societies Acts.
§ MR. RUNCIMANI understand that the Liverpool Victoria Legal Friendly Society has established a subsidiary company to carry on the business which under the Friendly Societies and Collecting Societies Acts it cannot perform itself. The society, however, still exists in its original form. With this exception, if this can be called an exception, the Chief Registrar informs me that he has no knowledge of the tendency to which the hon. Member alludes, nor is he aware that the tendency, if it did exist, would cause injury to the interests of the members or would be subversive of their rights. But in any case he regards his existing powers as fully sufficient to enable him to deal with any danger that may arise from this source.
951 In these circumstances I do not think there is any need to appoint a Committee.