The Gazette 1907-8

The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

[D'fec., 190?

didate, and be in a position to vote either for one he knew or one working along the same lines as himself. The effect of the alterations would be that in future the 347 members ad mitted within the last seventeen years would have one-third of the total representation, or the same as the other Classes. In his opinion; if the amendments were made, it would pre vent cliques; they would force an interest in the younger members on the older, and a corresponding interest in the older on the younger, and they would stimulate interest in the class of members at present most apathetic. MR. HENRY said he conceived the true principle of representation for any electorate was—to put a concrete case—that the Council should represent the greatest number of voters as expressed by the ballot. His first objection to the suggested amendment to the by-laws was that it restricted and limited the liberty and freedom of the members, not only as can didates for membership on the Council, but also as electors. As between two candidates, the person in whose favour there was the largest record of votes should be elected to the Council. He thought the converse to that was equally true ; that is to say, that the greater number of voters was entitled to representation on the Council in preference to the lesser number of voters. If they made the qua lifications suggested, the operation of the proposed by-law would probably lead to the disfranchisement of a certain portion of the electorate. The only true principle was to adhere to the method of representation pre scribed by their present by-laws, that was, that the persons who got the largest number of votes were to be elected on the Council.. The pro posed alteration would also introduce com plexity and confusion into the election. Furthermore, he objected to the proposed by law, because it would introduce arbitrary and invidious distinctions between members, and h'e feared that it would tend to prevent the 'candidature of the men best fitted to represent them on the Council. The distinctions would foster antagonisms and would set class against class, and they would be returning men not for the common good but as representing sections and classes. MR. FRY said the position should not be misunderstood. The Council had no close borough. Every individual member of the Council had to stand for re-election at the close of the year, and it lay with the consti- -tuents to return any man they desired. It had been said there was a want of sympathy be­

tween the Council and the younger members. Well, at the recent election the senior mem bers headed the poll. That showed that the younger members at any rate did not consider that their interests were neglected or in wrong hands. MR. P. J. BRADY said it struck him that the Council regarded themselves as on their trial. (No, no.) He only judged by the utterances of the Vice-President and Mr. Fry. As he understood Mr. Rooney's motion, there was not the least intention to attack the Council. What lie understood Mr. Rooney to suggest was this: that a certain class—he was afraid he was not in it—was not adequately represented on the Council, and that another class—the senior class—was very well represented, and he (Mr. Brady) hoped they would be always well repre sented. But the junior class was not repre sented, and he assured them there was a very widespread feeling that that was so. It occurred to him that some good results might be effected if they had a little conference. They might be able to see what could be done to remove the grievances which many members of the Society believed existed. MR. GORE suggested as a way out of the difficulty, that six members of the Council and six members of the profession of over seven years' standing be appointed a committee, to inquire into the whole matter, and report to next meeting. MR. GERALD BYRNE said it was sug gested that there was not new blood enough on the Council in the last few years. Now he happened to be elected on the Council in the year 1902, and out of the thirty-one ordinary members that were on the Council during the last year, there were eleven new members who were not on it in 1902. That was a great change in the last five years—an average of two new members annually. Everybody had a right to vote for thirty-one members, and the election was in the hands of the members, and not in the hands of the Council. He did not think any alteration was necessary. THE PRESIDENT said there was really nothing before the meeting to propose an amendment to, but he could assure both Mr. Brady and Mr. Gore that their suggestions would receive every consideration by the Council. Personally he would be glad to confer with Mr. Rooney. MR. BLOOD said there was absolutely no combination on this 'question. The members of the Council were all perfectly free to form an independent judgment. He thought it