This Act has several purposes. You will see it is meant to help groups form into societies for lawful reasons, not to make money for their members. It also aims to help these societies run well and make their laws easier to understand. The Act wants to make sure societies are accountable to their members. You are part of a society, and you have a role in keeping it honest. Societies should work in a way that makes you trust them. The Act recognises that societies are private and should run themselves. They should follow their own rules and customs without the Government interfering too much. Societies should not give their members profits or financial benefits.