Co-operative Societies Act 1979 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 3 · Privileges and Duties of Societies
16. By-laws to bind members
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Subject to subsection (2), the by‑laws and any amendment to the by‑laws of a society, when registered, bind the society and the members thereof to the same extent as if they were signed by each member and contained covenants on the part of each member for the member and the member’s personal representatives to observe all the provisions of the by-laws.
society
“society” means a co-operative society registered under this Act and includes a primary society, a secondary society and an apex organisation;
An amendment of the by‑laws of a society that has any of the following effects does not bind anyone who becomes a member of the society before the registration of that amendment under section 15, unless that member consents in writing to that amendment binding that member:
member
“member” includes an individual person or institution qualifying for membership in a co-operative society, who or which join in the application for the registration of a society, and an individual person or institution admitted to membership after registration in accordance with this Act, the Rules and the by-laws;
that amendment requires that member —
to take or to subscribe for more shares than the number held by that member immediately before the date of registration of that amendment under section 15; or
to pay upon the shares so held by that member any sum exceeding the amount unpaid upon those shares at that date;
that amendment increases (in any other way) the liability of that member at any time to contribute to the share, subscription or loan capital of the society;
that amendment will cause or require any shares of that member (being an institutional member) to be converted into permanent shares.