8.  If a member of the Fund is released from duty for a period in order to undertake a course of study or training under conditions which provide for his maintenance in lieu of the payment of the whole or part of his salary, or if special leave of absence without pay is granted to any member, the liability of the member to contribute and the corresponding liability of the Board to donate to the Fund shall, subject as hereinafter provided, be suspended during the period of such release from duty or special leave of absence, but if the member concerned shall desire to continue to contribute to the Fund during that period he shall in writing notify the Board of such desire, and if the Board agrees to the course proposed then and in such case the member shall during that period pay to the Treasurer monthly the sum the Board would have paid to the Treasurer under rule 7 on the salary (including increments) the member would have been receiving as a contribution by him to the Fund, and the amount so paid to the Treasurer shall be entered in the individual account of the member concerned in the portion entitled “Contributions Account”, and the Board may at its option pay to the Treasurer as a donation to the Fund the sum the Board would have paid to the Treasurer under rule 9 on the salary (including increments) the member would have been receiving and the same shall be entered in the individual account of the member concerned in the portion entitled “Donations Account”.