Friendly Societies Act, 1896

Societies which may be registered.

8. The following societies may be registered under this Act:—

(1) Societies (in this Act called friendly societies) for the purpose of providing by voluntary subscriptions of the members thereof, with or without the aid of donations, for—

(a) the relief or maintenance of the members, their husbands, wives, children, fathers, mothers, brothers, or sisters, nephews or nieces, or wards being orphans, during sickness or other infirmity, whether bodily or mental, in old age (which shall mean any age after fifty) or in widowhood, or for the relief or maintenance of the orphan children of members during minority; or

(b) insuring money to be paid on the birth of a member’s child, or on the death of a member, or for the funeral expenses of the husband, wife, or child of a member, or of the widow of a deceased member, or, as respects persons of the Jewish persuasion, for the payment of a sum of money during the period of confined mourning; or

(c) the relief or maintenance of the members when on travel in search of employment, or when in distressed circumstances, or in case of shipwreck, or loss or damage of or to boats or nets; or

(d) the endowment of members or nominees of members at any age; or

(e) the insurance against fire, to any amount not exceeding fifteen pounds, of the tools or implements of the trade or calling of the members; [1 or

(f) guaranteeing the performance of their duties by officers and servants of the society or any branch thereof.]

[2] Provided that a friendly society which contracts with any person for the assurance of an annuity exceeding fifty pounds per annum, or of a gross sum exceeding two hundred pounds, shall not be registered under this Act:

(2) Societies (in this Act called cattle insurance societies) for the purpose of insurance to any amount against loss of neat cattle, sheep, lambs, swine, horses, and other animals by death from disease or otherwise;

(3) Societies (in this Act called benevolent societies) for any benevolent or charitable purpose;

(4) Societies (in this Act called working-men’s clubs) for purposes of social intercourse, mutual helpfulness, mental and moral improvement, and rational recreation;

(5) Societies (in this Act called specially authorised societies) for any purpose which the Treasury may authorise as a purpose to which the provisions of this Act, or such of them as are specified in the authority, ought to be extended:

Provided that where any provisions of this Act are so specified those provisions only shall be so extended.

[1 Paragraph (f) added by 8 Edw. 7. c. 32, s. 1.]

[2 This proviso does not apply in the case of a scheme certified under the Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1906, see 6 Edw. 7. c. 58, Sched. I. (21).]