In this Act, unless a contrary intention appears :
The expression " the registrar " shall mean for England the central office, and for Scotland or Ireland the assistant registrar for Scotland or Ireland :
The expression " land " shall include any interest in land:
The expression " property " shall extend to all property whether real or personal (including books and papers):
The expression " registered society " shall mean a society registered under this Act, and shall include societies subsisting at the commencement of this Act to which the provisions of this Act apply:
The expression " amendment of rule " shall include a new rule, and a resolution rescinding a rule:
The expression " branch " shall mean any number of the members of a society, under the control of a central body, having a separate fund, administered by themselves or by a committee or officers appointed by themselves, and bound to contribute to a fund under the control of a central body:
The expression "committee " shall mean the committee of management or other directing body of a society or branch:
The expression " persons claiming through a member " shall include the nominees of the member where nomination is allowed:
The expression " officer " shall include any trustee, treasurer, secretary, or member of the committee of management of a society or branch, or person appointed by the society or branch to sue and be sued on its behalf:
The expression " meeting " shall include (where the rules of a society or branch so allow) a meeting of delegates appointed by members:
The expression " gazette " shall mean the London Gazette for England, the Edinburgh Gazette for Scotland, and the Dublin Gazette for Ireland.
The expression " Treasury regulations " shall mean any regulations made and approved by the Treasury and in force under this Act.
The expression " signed " in relation to a body corporate shall mean sealed.
The Acts mentioned in the Third Schedule to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent mentioned in the third column of that schedule.
This Act shall come into operation on the first day of January next after the passing thereof and shall extend to the whole of the British Islands.
This Act may be cited as the Friendly Societies Act, 1896.