Cap. 442 Art. 4Composition.

(1) The Board shall consist of a Chairman and of not less than two and not more than six other members. The members of the

Board, including the Chairman, shall be appointed by the Minister from among persons who, in his opinion, have experience of, and shown competence in, matters relating to co-operatives, and vacate office in accordance with the provisions of this Act and with the terms of his appointment, and shall on termination of appointment be eligible for re-appointment: Provided that a member of the Board may at any time, by notice in writing to the Minister, resign his office.

(3) No person shall be appointed or shall remain a member of the Board if that person is an officer or member of any society or the Apex organization.

(4) When the office of the Chairman of the Board is vacant or the Chairman is absent from Malta or on vacation, or is incapacitated from performing the functions of his office, the Minister may appoint any other person, whether a member of the Board or otherwise, to act as Chairman during such vacancy, absence, vacation or incapacity; and the person so appointed shall exercise all the rights and functions of the Chairman of the Board for the duration of such appointment.

(5) A member of the Board may be removed from office by the Minister if in the opinion of the Minister such member is guilty of serious misconduct in the performance of his duties or is incapable of carrying out his duties, or is absent from the meetings of the Board, without reasonable cause, for such number of meetings as the Minister may consider excessive.

(6) The Minister shall also appoint a Secretary to the Board.

(7) A member of the Board shall be paid such remuneration as the Minister may, with the concurrence of the Minister responsible for finance, from time to time determine.