(1)Upon the application of one-tenth of the whole number of members of a registered society or, in the case of a society with more than one thousand members, of one hundred of those members, the registrar mayF1... —
(a)appoint an inspector or inspectors to investigate and report on the affairs of the society; or
(b)call a special meeting of the society.
(2)An application under this section shall be supported by such evidence for the purpose of showing that the applicants have good reason for requiring the investigation or meeting and are not actuated by malicious motives, and such notice of the application shall be given to the society, as the registrar shall direct.
(3)The registrar may, if [F2the registrar] thinks fit, require the applicants to give security for the costs of the proposed investigation or meeting before appointing any inspector or calling the meeting.
(4)All expenses of and incidental or preliminary to any such investigation or meeting shall be defrayed by the members applying for it, or out of the funds of the society, or by the members or officers, or former members or officers, of the society, in such proportions as the registrar shall direct.
(5)An inspector appointed under this section may require the production of all or any of the books, accounts, securities and documents of the society and may examine on oath its officers, members, agents and servants in relation to its business, and may for that purpose administer oaths.
(6)The registrar may direct at what time and place a special meeting under this section is to be held, and what matters are to be discussed and determined at the meeting; and the meeting shall have all the powers of a meeting called according to the rules of the society, and shall have power to appoint its own chairman notwithstanding any rule of the society to the contrary.
F1Words in s. 58(1) omitted (6.4.2018 immediately after 2016 c. 16 (N.I.), s. 8(2) comes into force) by virtue of The Financial Services Act 2012 (Mutual Societies) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/323), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 16 (with art. 3)
F2Words in s. 58(3) substituted (6.4.2018 immediately after 2016 c. 16 (N.I.), s. 8(2) comes into force) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Mutual Societies) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/323), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 2(g) (with art. 3)