§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is now in a position to state the names of the persons said to have attended the annual meetings of Ireland's Life Assurance Society alleged to have been held on 6th May; the reason why the annual report, due to be circulated before that meeting, was not printed until after; the number of persons insured with that society; the amount of money received in premiums and otherwise since the formation of the society; the amount spent; the amount of liabilities incurred; the amount available to meet liabilities; where and how this is secured; and, if the trustees, treasurer, and secretary are answerable, the amount for which each of them is a solvent security; and whether the Assistant Registrar of Friendly Societies has tested any of these figures, or merely repeats what he is told?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies has no information with regard to the names of the persons who attended the meeting on 6th May, 1912, or to the printing of the annual report. Such particulars are not generally communicated to the Registrar. According to the returns for 1910 and 1911 the number of members of the society at the end of 1911 was 5,288; the amount of money received was, in 1910, for members' contributions, £1,323 11s. 11d.; other receipts, £116 13s. 6d., making together £1,440 5s. 5d.; and, in 1911, for members' contributions, £3,435 18s. l0d.; other receipts, £394 11s. 8d., making together £3,730 10s. 6d. The amount spent was, in262W 1910, £1,131 16s. 3d., and, in 1911, £3,740 3s. 5d. The liabilities of the society are stated as being £697 15s. 2d. The amount available to meet liabilities at the end of 1911 is stated as £697 15s. 2d., made up as follows:—
The annual return does not include any statement of the amount of prospective liabilities of the society in respect of insurance. The treasurer, Mr. W. A. Saunderson, is stated to have given security for £200, and the secretary, Mr. John Michael Butler, to have given a bond for £200, but the extent to which the trustees, treasurer, and secretary are answerable for liabilities incurred is a question of law in each case. Neither the Assistant Registrar of Friendly Societies for Ireland nor the Central Office in England have tested the figures, but each of the annual returns contains a statement that it has been audited by a public auditor. The auditor's certificate this year is not complete and the Chief Registrar is in communication with the society on this matter.
£ s. d. In the Guardian Bank, Limited, Current Account £377 15 5 Government Securities 155 11 0 Cash in the cashier's hands 0 3 8 Office furniture and fittings 93 15 4 Stationery 70 9 9