HC Deb 04 April 1940 vol 359 cc409-25

Considered in Committee.

[Sir Dennis Herbert in the Chair.]

Clause 1.—(Power during emergency to modify certain requirements as to meetings, appointment of officers and amendment of rules.)

7.34 p.m.

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Captain Crookshank)

I beg to move, in page 1, line 17, after "with," to insert "or vary."

In rising to move the first Amendment, it may perhaps shorten our proceedings and be of assistance to the Committee if they will allow me to say what I propose to do in regard to the large number of Amendments which are on the Order Paper. The first series of Amendments in my name are all drafting points, or deal with subsidiary points which are equivalent to drafting, and I shall ask the Committee to accept them. The long list of Amendments standing in the name of the hon. Gentleman the Member for Seaham (Mr. Shinwell) I do not propose to resist, if they are moved, and the same is true of the long list of Amendments in the name of the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for South-East Leeds (Major Milner) on the next page, and that applies to the corresponding Amendments on the fourth page. I shall move to negative Clause 8. Apart from that, there are two or three other Amendments with which we can deal as they come along. Perhaps that statement may help the Committee.

7.35 p.m.

Mr. Shinwell (Seaham)

I rise to express my gratitude to the right hon. and gallant Gentleman for his statement. All I can say is that, if the Government had shown such expedition in other matters as he has shown in this matter, it would have been a very happy thing.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made: In page 2, line 1, after "periods," insert "or at specified places."—[Captain Crookshank.]

Captain Crookshank

I beg to move, in page 2, line 2, after "enactment," to insert: or any regulation, rule or order made under any enactment.

7.36 p.m.

Mr. Rhys Davies (Westhoughton)

May I ask the right hon. and gallant Gentleman, who is a very knowledgeable person on all these matters, what are the rules, regulations or enactments that would affect what we are dealing with to-day, apart from those that are covered by the Bill itself? Perhaps the right hon. and gallant Gentleman may be able to enlighten us on that point.

Captain Crookshank

I do not know that there are any in fact.

Mr. Davies

If there are none, why seek to put in this Amendment?

Captain Crookshank

The hon. Gentleman said, I think, "excepting those referred to in the Bill itself."

Mr. Davies

Perhaps I have not made myself clear. The right hon. and gallant Gentleman is proposing an Amendment to insert: or any regulation, rule or order made under any enactment. Can he explain what these rules or orders made under any enactment mean?

7.37 p.m.

Captain Crookshank

I appreciate the inquiry of the hon. Gentleman. I thought that that was really only a drafting point to introduce any regulations or orders which might have been made under the general body of regulations during the war. It is an emergency provision which has been put in since the war started, but which is not specified or defined. There is no substance in this. It is really only a drafting Amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made: In page 2, line 43, leave out "section" and insert "Act."—[Captain Crookshank.]

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause, as amended, stand part of the Bill."

7.38 p.m.

Mr. Oliver (Ilkeston)

Perhaps the Financial Secretary to the Treasury will be good enough to explain the provision of this particular Clause. I am given to understand that some statement has been made that he intends to remove Clause 8 altogether, and that it will be competent for trade unions to approach the Registrar of Friendly Societies to make an amendment in the benefit rule or to carry out by negotiation with the Registrar that which this Bill originally intended to carry out, namely, the procedure with regard to benefits in Clause 8. Is that the intention that this particular Clause has in view? I am rather interested to know whether a trade union will be able to go to the Registrar in the event of not being able to meet their obligations under their rules and ask for an amendment of the benefit rule. I refer particularly to those trade unions which are illegal under the Common Law, where the benefits cannot be enforced and the unions may repudiate the benefits. What will be the position if a trade union which has been held to be illegal at Common Law goes to the Registrar? Will he be authorised to amend the rule, or will they be told that the law does not recognise the enforcement of the contract and that by that means they themselves must repudiate their moral liability—certainly not their legal liability—and they cannot proceed to ask the Registrar to assist them in this particular matter?

7.40 p.m.

Captain Crookshank

The hon. Gentleman has propounded a problem which I think I can answer correctly. I do not think that what he suggests could in fact occur. The whole object of what we are proposing is governed by the fact that the approach to the Chief Registrar for this amended form of procedure—because that is all that it amounts to—is on the basis, as he will see in Clause 1, Sub-section (1), page 1, line 13, "of circumstances attributable to the emergency."

Mr. Oliver

I am assuming that that condition obtains.

Captain Crookshank

That is the governing consideration, and Sub-section (2) diminishes the consideration still further, in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c). I do not think therefore that the question of anything which could have arisen under Clause 8 would get through these double gates. That, I think, is the position. Perhaps I have not quite taken up the point of the hon. Member?

Mr. Oliver

Perhaps I have not made myself particularly clear. It gives the trade unions the right to go to the Registrar to amend the rules. It may well be that the rule that they may seek to amend is a benefit rule, and that need for amendment arises out of the emergency. What is the position of the Registrar with respect to a trade union declared illegal at Common Law?

Captain Crookshank

I do not quite understand the hon. Member. I am sorry. This is part of the law with which I am not very well acquainted, and perhaps the hon. Member will help me a little by saying what he means by an illegal trade union.

Mr. Oliver

Under Section 4 of the Act of 1871 there are certain contracts which the courts cannot enforce by reason of the trade union being an illegal association at Common Law. That being the case, if an illegal association goes to the Registrar and suggests that by reason of the emergency they cannot pay the benefits, which they have morally contracted to pay to their members, what is the position of the Registrar in that respect? Can he authorise an alteration in the benefit rule, or must he say, "I have no power, and as a result of my having no power, you must repudiate on your own responsibility"? I think that that is as clear as the thing can be made.

Captain Crookshank

As far as the Clause is concerned, any rule can be amended, subject to whatever the procedure may be of confirming it. The object of the Clause is to make it clear that, if in the case of emergency the ordinary procedure cannot be carried out, then the same sort of amendment can be authorised by permission of the Chief Registrar. The Clause itself gives the safeguard in Sub-section (4), in the event of the action taken not being approved subsequently by the general meeting. As regards, the so-called "illegal" trade unions, it seems to me that if they do not come within the sphere of the Registrar in one way or another, he has no jurisdiction to deal with them. He can deal only with those for whom he has the responsibility laid down by Parliament. I think that that is the answer; and I hope that it is correct.

Mr. Oliver

I am much obliged to the right hon. and gallant Gentleman.

CLAUSE 2.—(Provisions as to registered branches of friendly societies.)

Amendment made: In page 3, line 28, at the end, add: (4) Sub-section (4) of the foregoing Section shall apply to an amendment of the rules of a registered branch of a friendly society, being an amendment made under this Section otherwise than in accordance with a direction given by the chief registrar, in like manner as it applies to an amendment made in accordance with such a direction."—[Captain Crookskank.]

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 3 and 4 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

CLAUSE 5.—(Amalgamation and transfer of engagements of building societies.)

Amendment made: In page 4, line 35, after "present," insert "and entitled to vote."—[Captain Crookshank.]

7.46 p.m.

The following Amendment stood upon the Order Paper in the name of Rear-Admiral BEAMISH:

In page 4, line 37, at the end, to insert: (2) A special resolution and/or a resolution of the general meeting or committee of management under this Section shall disclose all particulars of any money payment or other benefit proposed to be paid to, conferred on, or received by, for, or on behalf of any director, manager, officer, or servant connected with any building society referred to in the special resolution and/or resolution of the general meeting or committee of management having reference to any amalgamation or transfer of engagements of a building society.

Rear-Admiral Beamish (Lewes)

I put down this Amendment in order to test Clause5 in regard to its capacity to look after the interests of members of building societies, but on closer examination and after making further inquiries my impression is that the Clause, particularly so far as Sub-section (3) is concerned, covers all the ground that I want, and unless the Amendment in the name of the hon. and gallant Member for South-East Leeds (Major Milner) is moved later on, when I should wish to say something on it, I will not proceed with my Amendment.

7.47 p.m.

Major Milner (Leeds, South East)

I beg to move, in page 5, line 12, at the beginning, to insert: Except with the consent of the Registrar. I move this Amendment as the present Clause is somewhat drastic, and it might make the perfectly bona fide procedure, on the part of a building society whose directors, for one reason or another, de- cided to dissolve it, void, and a society might be put into a difficulty with possibly serious results and certainly considerable inconvenience and expense. For example, a society might decide to dissolve, and then an opportunity might come along whereby it could transfer its mortgages to another society to the advantage of all concerned. Having come to the original decision it might by its later decision be put into a difficulty under the Clause as it stands in the Bill although acting in perfect good faith. Under these circumstances it seems to me appropriate that the Registrar should have power to consent in a proper case to that procedure continuing notwithstanding that a transfer of mortgages is contemplated. There are cases where the approval of the Registrar is deniable and convenient, and in my submission this is one of those cases.

Amendment agreed to.

Major Milner

I beg to move, in page 5, line 26, at the end, to insert: (4) A transfer of mortgages by a building society to another building society on terms that, except with his consent, the obligations of the mortgagor are not varied to his disadvantage, shall not for the purposes of this Section, be deemed to be a transfer of engagements provided that no other funds, property or assets are also transferred as part of the same transaction except additional security held in connection with any such mortgage. This is a rather more technical matter. There is no definition, so far as I know, of what is meant by the term "transfer of engagements," and in particular it is not clear whether that term necessarily involves the transfer of all the engagements of a society or whether it would be permissible to transfer, as might be desirable, only part of the engagements of the society, as, for example, some portion of its mortgage securities. In this matter the Building Societies Association for whom I speak are in doubt, and it is clearly desirable at this time that they should know where they stand and that they should be empowered to transfer mortgages to another society in case of necessity. The position of the trade unions is dealt with in Clause 6, Sub-section (3), where it will be seen that the Clause does anticipate trade unions desiring to transfer a part of their property. Similarly, a building society should have the same power and be enabled to transfer mortgages. In wartime it is particularly essential that financial institutions should be liquid or, at any rate, have a sufficient degree of liquidity to enable them to deal with any calls that may reasonably be made upon them. There are about 900 building societies of all shapes, sizes and financial capacity in this country. There are some which have only mortgage securities and if there was a run on their funds or depositors decided to pay out there might be a difficulty. There are others which have, in my view, too small a proportion of investments easily realisable. Therefore, in my submission it is in the public interest that a society should be able to transfer to another society a sufficient number of mortgages to obtain ready money and be able to keep all its obligations to its depositors and shareholders at all times. It ought to be able to carry through such a transaction without the publicity which is so rightly insisted on by law in the case of a complete amalgamation. I hope that makes the position clear. If the proposal I have made was accepted, it would enable the transfer of mortgages to be made from one society to another, together with the appropriate collateral security which was the subject of discussion under the Building Societies Act of last year. My Amendment provides an ample safeguard for the mortgagor, although I doubt if it is really required; it is a practical proposal of very great value, and I hope the right hon. and gallant Gentleman will see his way to accept it.

7.56 p.m.

Captain Crookshank

The hon. and gallant Member has said that this is a rather more technical point than his earlier one, and I would like to say that it was put on the Order Paper only very recently, and, frankly, I have not had the time to discuss it and give it the consideration which it deserves. This is not one of the war Clauses, and in view of this it would be importing something into the permanent law regarding building societies in peace as well as war. While I appreciate the arguments put before the Committee, I should prefer it if the hon. and gallant Member could see his way to withdraw the Amendment to-day and put it down again for the Report stage. While not committing myself in any way to its acceptance, this would give me further time to consider it with everybody concerned, and with the hon. and gallant Member himself if he likes, with a view to seeing whether it should be inserted into the body of the law or not, without prejudice to the question of acceptance.

Major Milner

I am much obliged to the right hon. and gallant Gentleman. I agree that the Amendment was put on the Order Paper rather late, and in those circumstances and with the conviction that on consideration he will feel it right to accept the Amendment, I beg to ask leave to withdraw it.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 6.—(Amalgamation and transfer of engagements of trade unions.)

7.38 p.m.

Mr. Shinwell

I beg to move, in page 5, line 34, to leave out from "provided," to "a," in line 38.

The right hon. and gallant Gentleman has intimated his intention of accepting this block of Amendments. Very little, therefore, requires to be said about them, but perhaps the Committee will allow me to make a brief explanation of the reasons for this series of Amendments on the Paper. Two points are involved. The first is the transfer of engagements from one union to another, and the other is the proposed repeal of existing legislation, in particular, the Act of 1917. In the case of the 1917 Act it provided for the ordinary procedure for the facilitating of amalgamations. Unions were called upon, and are still called upon, under the legislation to take a ballot of their members in the ordinary way preceding amalgamation. It was the intention of the Bill, as I understand it, to repeal that legislation, but on mature consideration it was thought to be undesirable to remove it altogether.

As regards the transfer of engagements, the position is this: It sometimes happens that two organisations decide to amalgamate, but it is undesirable that they should avail themselves of the usual procedure under the 1917 Act. One organisation may be large, perhaps with 100,000 members, and the other small, with 1,000 or 2,000 members. The large organisation, obviously, does not care to undertake all the cumbrous procedure involved in the 1917 Act or to take a ballot of its members and the like. It may be asked why the smaller organisation could not be dissolved and then be absorbed by the larger organisation, but there are psychological reasons why the small organisation, with long-standing traditions of which it feels proud, should not dissolve in that way. It is, therefore, proposed that they should be permitted to transfer their engagements in the manner indicated, thus making it unnecesary to adopt the procedure of the 1917 Act. It is the desire of the trade union movement, and the view has been expressed by the Trades Union Congress, that everything that can be done should be done, both during war and, indeed, in peace, to enable an organisation to facilitate amalgamation. That is the view of the Trades Union Congress as representing the organisation, and the right hon. and gallant Gentleman concurs in that view.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendments made:

In page 5, line 41, leave out "amalgamation or."

In page 6, line 4, leave out "three-fourths," and insert "two-thirds."—[Mr. Shinwell.]

In line 5, after "present," insert "and entitled to vote."—[Captain Crookshank.]

In line 7, leave out "a majority representing."

In line 8, leave out "three-fourths," and insert "two-thirds."

In line 8, leave out "whole number of members of the union," and insert "delegates present at the meeting."

In line 10, leave out "amalgamation or."

In line 12, leave out "in writing."

In line 13, leave out "every union amalgamating, or of."

In line 15, after "obtained," insert "either at meetings or in writing."

In line 24, leave out "amalgamation or."

In line 25, leave out "amalgamating or."

In line 29, leave out "or," and insert "with any other trade union or of any trade union."

In page 7, line 7, leave out "under this Section."

In line 15, leave out from "any," to "transfer," in line 17.

In line 18, leave out "those Acts," and insert: the National Health Insurance Acts, 1936 to 1939.

In line 23, leave out Sub-section (5).—[Mr. Shinwell.]

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 7.—(Continuation during war service of membership of friendly society.)

Amendments made:

In page 7, line 35, leave out from "Crown," to "shall," in line 37.

In line 38, leave out "or employment."

In page 8, line 2, leave out "or employment."

In line 3, leave out "or employed."

In line 4, leave out "or employment."

In line 9, after "but," insert: no further contributions shall be paid by him until the determination of his service or of the period of the emergency, whichever is the earlier, and.

In line 10, leave out from "suspended," to "as," in line 12, and insert: until he subsequently resumes payment of contributions, and he shall thereupon."—[Major Milner.]

8.8 p.m.

Mr. Naylor (Southwark, South-East)

I beg to move, in page 8, line 14, at the end, to insert: Provided that if any member of a society dies whilst serving, his next of kin or other representative shall be entitled to any benefit to which they would have been entitled if death had occurred before the cessation of contributions. I do not know whether the Financial Secretary has examined this Amendment, but I think he will agree that it is absolutely necessary, otherwise the representatives of men who have been killed will have no right to draw death benefits, because a previous provision says that no benefit shall be paid until he subsequently resumes payment of contributions. It is obvious that a dead man cannot possibly take steps to resume payment of contributions, and in view of that I think the Minister will agree that it is necessary to make this Amendment in order to secure the rights of the next of kin of a man who has been killed and who is not in a position to resume payment of contribution.

8.10 p.m.

Captain Crookshank

I, of course, accept the undoubted fact that a dead man cannot pay contributions for any purpose, but I am rather surprised that the hon. Member should have moved this Amendment. On the Second Reading of the Bill he objected to the whole principle of the Bill on the ground that there was nothing in it which could not be done by a friendly society or a trade union acting under its own rules without any assistance whatever from the State. The Bill was wrong, in his view, because it attempted to impose on trade unions and friendly societies certain things which they could do by amending their own rules. The curious thing is that his present Amendment wants to do the very thing to which he was strongly opposed in principle.

Mr. Naylor

I have to accept the inevitable.

Captain Crookshank

I wonder whether the hon. Member will accept the inevitability of my being unable to accept the Amendment.

Mr. Naylor

I accept the inevitability of a dead man not being able to resume contributions.

Mr. Rhys Davies

Did not my hon. Friendon the Second Reading say that the Bill prevented societies paying such benefits and that the Amendment he now proposes would compel them to do so?

Captain Crookshank

I do not think there is anything here which would prevent any society, if they so desired, making the desired concession in the ordinary way. Indeed Sub-section (4) says: Nothing in this Section shall be taken to prevent a friendly society providing by its rules for the continuance of the membership of persons serving or employed as aforesaid upon terms more favourable than those provided by this Section. I am advised that this provision will enable any society to do what the hon. Member seeks to impose on all societies. I should have thought he would have adhered to the views he so boldly enunciated on the Second Reading and have wished to interfere as little as possible with the organisation and management of the societies themselves.

8.13 p.m.

Mr. Naylor

The Financial Secretary will recognise that the Clause with which we are now dealingmakes provision for the suspension of benefits to members until such time as they resume contributions. My point is that a deceased member cannot possibly resume contributions, and that if there is no such Amendment in the Bill a trade union or a friendly society may say that they decline to pay benefit until the late member has resumed contributions. That will postpone the matter indefinitely, especially as no one will be able to discover where the late member may happen to be. My objection to the principle of the Bill was stated on the Second Reading, and I am satisfied, having stated it. As the House came to the conclusion that the Bill should be passed, I want to make a bad Bill as good as it can be made. That is the object of my Amendment. I want to make it quite clear that the next-of-kin of a deceased member has the protection of the law and that their interests are safeguarded in the event of a relative passing over.

I am rather surprised that the right hon. and gallant Gentleman does not see the necessity for this Amendment. If the provision is passed as it now stands, it will offer a loophole which will enable societies to escape responsibility in regard to the payment of benefits in the circumstances I have mentioned. What can be the right hon. and gallant Gentleman's objection to the Amendment? There can be no misunderstanding as to what it means, and if, as he has suggested, unions or friendly societies could pay benefits without this addition being made, surely there can be no objection to making the matter clear, so that if a legal action takes place, the Act can be produced and the liability be placed upon the court to give a proper construction to its provisions. I hope the right hon. and gallant Gentleman will accept the Amendment.

8.16 p.m.

Mr. Shinwell

It appears to me that there must be some safeguard against next-of-kin being deprived of their right to benefit. That is the sole point with which I am concerned at the moment, and to that extent I support my hon. Friend's Amendment. It may be that the Financial Secretary had had this Amendment thrust upon him, and for that reason is not in a position to give an adequate reply. I suggest that he might agree to give consideration to this matter between now and the Report stage, and perhaps my hon. Friend would be content with such an assurance. We have no desire to go to a Division on this Amendment, but it seems to raise a point of substance, and there may well be some ambiguity which needs to be cleared up.

8.17 p.m.

Captain Crookshank

If there were any question of the next of kin and others now entitled to benefits being deprived of their entitlement through the accidental use of any wrong words in the Bill, that would not of course be right; and if it is felt that there is any possible dubiety I should be prepared to look into the matter again between now and the Report stage. This Clause is, so to speak, the friendly societies' own Clause. Neither the hon. Member who put down the Amendment nor the hon. Member for Seaham (Mr. Shinwell) has approached me on this specific point. If they think it would be wise to do so, I will, as I say, consider the matter again before the Report stage, because my only desire is to meet the wishes of the House on this Bill in general.

8.18 p.m.

Major Milner

It seems to me that if the Amendment of my hon. Friend the Member for South-East Southwark (Mr. Naylor) were passed, it would impose an obligation on societies which they would not otherwise have, and it might be a very serious matter. I understand that the Amendment means that although there had been a cessation of contributions for one year, two years, or perhaps three years, if death occurred while the man was serving or employed the next of kin would be entitled to a benefit which would not otherwise be payable, and therefore, the Amendment might impose an additional obligation upon the societies. I hope that on further reflection, my hon. Friend will not think it right to do that.

8.19 p.m.

Mr. Buchanan (Gorbals)

I think there is a point concerning the next of kin which ought to be looked into. For instance, if a man was a prisoner of war for twelve months, he would not be able to pay his contributions, and they would be unpaid unless some relative paid them. In most cases, however, it is a question of a man making direct contributions. If the man died while he was a prisoner of war, the next of kin would have no claim, unless this Amendment were inserted in the Bill. Therefore, I feel that some safeguard on the lines of the Amendment is necessary. I do not claim that the Amendment is a perfect one, but something ought to be done to safeguard a person who, for certain reasons connected with the war, is debarred from keeping in touch with his friendly society. I hope that the Amendment will be considered from that aspect.

8.20 p.m.

Mr. Naylor

On the understanding that the Financial Secretary will give serious consideration to an Amendment on these lines—I do not insist on the actual words of this Amendment—and on the understanding that I shall take the opportunity of returning to the matter on the Report stage, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Amendment made: In page 8, line 17, leave out "or employment aforesaid."— [Major Milner.]

8.21 p.m.

Sir Robert Young (Newton)

I beg to move, in page 8, line 18, to leave out "before," and to insert "after."

I understand that the Financial Secretary accepts this Amendment. It is obvious that the reference ought to be to "after the expiration of the period of the emergency." The Amendment would give the member three or four months in which to resume the payment of his contributions.

Amendment agreed to.

8.22 p.m.

Mr. Shinwell

I beg to move, in page 8, line 22, to leave out from "affect" to "contract," in line 23, and to insert "any."

I understand that the right hon. and gallant Gentleman accepts this Amendment, which is clearly intended to remove an ambiguity. As the Sub-section now stands, it might refer to the collectors of friendly societies.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made:

In page 8, line 28, leave out "or employed."—[Major Milner.]

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause, as amended, stand part of the Bill."

8.23 p.m.

Major Milner

As the right hon. and gallant Gentleman was good enough to indicate at the beginning of the proceedings on this Bill that he would accept the series of Amendments, I and my hon. Friends have not put forward any arguments on the Amendments, but I think that at this stage some recognition ought to be given to the fact that the friendly societies—and in this matter, I can, with my hon. Friends, speak for the National Conference of Friendly Societies, which represents some 7,000,000 members—are continuing the membership of all those who are serving in the Naval, Military or Air Forces of the Crown. As a matter of fact, a great majority, if not all, of the societies would have done that without this Bill being introduced, and certainly recognition ought to be given to that fact. The right hon. and gallant Gentleman has indicated that he does not propose to proceed with Clause 8 of the Bill. If I may mention it in passing, though I have no wish to labour the matter, Clause 8 would have given a relief to the friendly societies. Since it is now to be withdrawn, then, as I have said, recognition ought to be given to the friendly societies for having accepted responsibility for those who are serving in the Armed Forces and for keeping them in membership, notwithstanding the fact that no relief is being afforded to them, such as was proposed in Clause 8.

8.26 p.m.

Sir R. Young

I wish to tender my thanks to the right hon. and gallant Gentleman the Financial Secretary for having accepted these Amendments in relation to the friendly societies. As one who has been a friendly society member since a date which I can hardly remember, I can say that the societies would have done their duty by their members who are serving in the Armed Forces in any case and that the statutory obligation which is now being imposed upon them would not have been required. The statutory obligation, however, is being imposed on all societies, and I am much obliged to the Minister for having accepted these Amendments.

Question, "That the Clause, as amended, stand part of the Bill," put, and agreed to.

CLAUSE 8.—(Reduction of friendly society and trade union benefit in cases where compensation, pension or grant is payable in respect of war injury or disease.)

Motion made, and Question, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill," put, and negatived.

CLAUSE 9.—(Power of certain societies to set up fund for purchase on behalf of members of Government securities.)

Amendment made: In page 9, line 40, leave out "industrial and provident society," and insert: any society registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts, 1893 to 1928."—[Captain Crookshank.]

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 10 to 13 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

SCHEDULE.—(Enactments repealed.)

Amendments made:

In page 12, leave out lines 14 to 22.

Leave out lines 26 to 28.—[Mr. Shinwell.]

Schedule, as amended, agreed to.

Bill reported, with Amendments; as amended, to be considered upon Tuesday next, and to be printed [Bill 32].