20. Proof of entries in books of society

A copy of any entry in a book of a registered society regularly kept in the course of business shall, if certified in such a manner as may be prescribed by the rules, be received in any legal proceeding, civil or criminal, as prima facie evidence of the existence of such entry and shall be admitted as evidence of the matters, transactions and accounts therein recorded in every case where, and to the same extent as, the original entry itself is admissible.

No officer of any such society shall, in any legal proceedings to which the society is not a party, be compelled to produce any of the society’s books, the contents of which can be proved under subsection (1) or to appear as a witness to prove any matters, transactions or accounts therein recorded, unless the court for special reasons so directs.