61. Mr. NEWDEGATEasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, although since 1879 Midland Railway employés may not have been technically compelled to join the Midland Railway Friendly Society on receiving employment, yet that candidates for such employment would have had a poor chance of being taken on who refused to become members of that friendly society; and whether, under these circumstances, he will strongly advise the Registrar of Friendly Societies to withhold his consent to any diminution of insurance benefits promised by that society?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI have no knowledge of any facts on which the suggestion in the first part of the question is based. The amendments in question appear to 1182 have been duly adopted in manner provided by the rules of the society, and therefore it would not appear to be competent for the Registrar to refuse to register them, since they are not contrary to law, as has been explained several times in answer to previous questions. The Registrar acts in accordance with his statutory duty, and it would be impossible to ask him to adopt a course which would conflict with that duty.