Mr. POINTERasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the compulsory winding-up of the Pomona Haulage Company, Limited, at Manchester, on 15th March; whether the same persons were also interested in the Co-operative Banking and Investment Society, Limited, the Mutual Money Society, and the Mutual Rubber Growers, Limited; whether these were registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act, 1893; whether the Registrar-General received correspondence calling his attention to these companies in December, 1909, when the Mutual Money Society was in liquidation; whether the Registrar took any action in the matter; and, if so, with what result?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the President of the Board of Trade to his question of 3rd April last in regard to the Pomona Haulage Company, Limited, which is a company registered under the Companies Acts. The Co-operative Banking and Investment Society, Limited, and the Mutual Rubber Growers, Limited, are societies registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act. The Mutual Money Society was registered as a specially authorised society under the Friendly Societies Act. It was dissolved by Instrument of Dissolution registered 27th November, 1908. Certain of the same persons2664W appear to be concerned in the three societies named. The Registrar of Friendly Societies has no knowledge whether these persons are interested in the Pomona Haulage Company, Limited, but is making inquiries on the subject. In December, 1909, the Registrar of Friendly Societies received complaints as to the Co-operative Banking and Investment Society, Limited, which he inquired into. The Registrar did not find that the transactions in question were contrary to the Rules or the Act of Parliament, and he referred the applicants to Sections 18 and 50 of the Industrial and Provident Societies Act, 1893, under which a certain portion of the members have power to apply to the Chief Registrar for the appointment of an inspector. No such application has been made. Complaints have also been made in September, 1910, and January, 1911, and later, relating to the Mutual Money Society as to non-payment of dividends and otherwise as to the conduct of the dissolution. The Registrar of Friendly Societies has procured a copy of the accounts in the dissolution, but he has no jurisdiction to interfere in the matter.