Membership of associations

(1) Membership of an association recognised or registered under this Act shall be entirely voluntary. (2) A cane farmer who was a member of an association before the commencement of this Act, shall not be required to apply for registration with that association and shall be entitled by virtue of this section to automatic registration based on his membership to such association, or if he so chooses, to apply for membership of another association. (3) Any person who is a cane farmer and wishes to become a member of an association, may within 30 days following the receipt of his application, be accepted as a member of the association to which he applies for membership provided that he satisfies the conditions for membership of that association as set out in the rules or bye-laws of that association. (4) A member of any cane farmers association shall enjoy the full rights and privileges of membership that are extended to any other member, and shall be able to access all services offered to any other member of such association in accordance with the rules or bye-laws of such association. No member shall be deprived of rights, privileges or access to services offered by the association of which he is a member except in accordance with procedures and arrangements as may be set out in the rules or bye-laws of that association. (5) Any cane farmer who desires to change or resign his membership from one association to join another association may do so provided that he changes or resigns his membership before the commencement of the grinding season. (6) An association may terminate or suspend the membership of any cane farmer in accordance with its rules or bye-laws.