§ MR. J. MACVEAGHI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a Select Committee in 1889 reported that the Friendly Societies 1276 Act requires amendment, extension, and strengthening; whether he can state what legislation has since been passed in that direction; and whether he can say to how many of the thirty-three recommendations of that Select Committee effect has meanwhile been given.
§ MR. HOBHOUSEThe Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. The following are the Acts passed since 1899 dealing with friendly societies:—52, 53 Vic. cap. 22; 56, 57 Vic. cap. 30; 58, 59 Vic. cap. 26; 59 and 60 Vic. cap. 25; 59 and 60 Vic. cap. 26. In 1891 a Bill was introduced to amend. the law relating to industrial assurance; it was ordered to be referred to the Standing Committee on Trade before which it was in part discussed. It was finally withdrawn in June.