§ "An approved society may join and remain in an association for the purposes of Section thirty-nine of the principal Act notwithstanding that the number of its members for the purposes of Part thereof is less than fifty or more than five thousand, and, in calculating for the purposes of that Section the number of persons who are such members, no account shall be taken of members who by reason of marriage are 3435 suspended from receiving ordinary benefits or who are not insured persons."
§ Clause brought up, and read the first time.
§ Mr. MASTERMANI beg to move, "That the Clause be read a second time."
Mr. BATHURSTThe object of this Clause is to ensure that all approved societies can be included in county or other associations. There has been a difficulty in some cases as regards societies which were themselves more in number than 5,000 and where such societies joined with weaker societies; but what I am more interested in are the societies with less than 50 members, the ordinary little old-fashioned village friendly societies, so that these societies, which have a very small number of members, may be able to combine with other smaller societies to make up an aggregate of 5,000 and thereby be financially sound upon the valuation. I do not think there is likely to be any opposition to this, which is intended to facilitate the formation of those County Associations.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Clause added to the Bill.