(1) Upon the application of one tenth of the whole number of members of a registered society, or of one hundred members in the case of a society exceeding one thousand members, the chief registrar, or, in the case of societies registered and doing business exclusively in Scotland or Ireland, the assistant registrar for Scotland or Ireland respectively, but with the consent of the Treasury in every case, may -

(a) appoint an inspector or inspectors to examine into and report on the affairs of such society; or

(b) call a special meeting of the society.

(2) The application under this section shall be supported by such evidence, for the purpose of showing that the applicants have good reason for requiring such inspection to be made or meeting to be called, and that they are not actuated by malicious motives in their application, and such notice thereof shall be given to the society, as the chief registrar shall direct.

(3) The chief registrar or such assistant registrar may, if he think fit, require the applicants to give security for the costs of the proposed inspection or meeting before appointing any inspector or calling such meeting.