(1)Subject to subsections (2) and (3) below and also to section 9 below, the following societies may be registered under this Act, that is to say,—
(a)societies (in this Act called " friendly societies") for the purpose of providing by voluntary subscriptions of the members, with or without the aid of donations, for any of the purposes specified in Schedule 1 to this Act;
(b)societies (in this Act called " cattle insurance societies ") for the purpose of insurance to any amount against loss of cattle, sheep, lambs, swine, horses, and other animals by death from disease or otherwise;
(c)societies (in this Act called " benevolent societies ") for any benevolent or charitable purpose;
(d)societies (in this Act called "working men's clubs") for purposes of social intercourse, mutual helpfulness, mental and moral improvement and rational recreation;
(e)societies (in this Act called " old people's home societies ") for the purpose of providing homes for the members and others at any age after fifty ;
(f)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.
(2)A society may not be registered under this Act unless—
(a)the rules of the society contain provisions in respect of the several matters mentioned in Part I of Schedule 2 to this Act and, in the case of a friendly society or cattle insurance society, also contain provisions in respect of the several matters mentioned in Part II of that Schedule; and
(b)the place which under the society's rules is to be the society's registered office is situated in the central registration area or in Scotland ; and
(c)the society consists of at least seven persons.
(3)A friendly society or branch thereof may not be registered under this Act if it contracts with any person for the assurance of an annuity or of a gross sum in excess of the limits in section 64 below.
(4)Where any provisions of this Act are specified in an authority given under paragraph (f) of subsection (1) above, those provisions only shall extend to a society which has been registered as a specially authorised society by virtue of that authority.