The Gazette 1907-8

DEC., 1907]

The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

63

not attend to appeals until the entire Civil Bill Sessions were over. The present Recorder of Dublin had done a great deal to remedy the bad state of affairs ; but these matters could not be changed unless he were authorized to do so by Act of Parliament, which change would make the Court a suitable one, and more capable for the collection of small debts in the City and County of Dublin. Of course he was against the bringing of the Kilmainham business into the City of Dublin ; but when the Boundaries Act brought Clontarf and the entire of the Kilmainham township into the City of Dublin, he found it was much easier for defendants in the remaining districts, viz., Rathmines and Howth, to attend at Green Street than at Kilmainham, and the benefit by bringing the entire district into the city would give a monthly Sessions instead of the old Quarterly Sessions. He was, therefore, of opinion, for what his opinion was worth, that the Kilmainham business ought to be tried in the city, at Green Street, leaving all the other divisions standing as they are at present. SIR GEORGE ROCHE said he had very few observations to make, and they principally related to the working of the Land Act. In the first place, he thought they all admitted that the Judge and the Commissioners had done everything to facilitate them, but a block arose from the want of funds. There were about Cooo originating applications and requests lodged ; and of those only 2000 had been disposed of in four years. At that rate the applications now lodged would take eight years before they could be dealt with. That was a very .serious matter, not only to the landlords, but to the tenants. The landlords were receiving considerably less than their past income, and the tenants were paying much larger sums than they would have to if their cases were closed. They all recognized the difficulty the Government were in, in procuring the funds; but it was of the utmost importance to the interests of the country that the working of the Land Act should be placed on a proper basis. He was pleased to see that the Chief Secretary had withdrawn the observations previously made by him, to the effect that the delay was due to the lawyers. He had now admitted that the delay was due to himself, which meant, of course, that it was due to the difficulties the Government were in as to getting funds. Something ought to be done to bring the system to work more expe- ditiously. There was only one other matter he wished

to refer to—that was the question of labourers' schemes. It was regrettable that any solicitors should take the work at a scale lower than the fixed scale, which was most wretched. Unfortunately in the country the question of tendering for cases was going on, and had been strongly protested against by their profession. He knew of one case where the solicitor for a board said he would take the work according to the scale, and another gentleman said he would take it for i>js. in the pound, or 15 per cent, below the 'wretched scale. He certainly trusted that less than the scale would not be taken, and they must, try to get it increased. MR. JAMES BRADY said he thought the attitude of some of their professional brethren with regard to the Labourers Acts and fees was regrettable, and, to his mind—he said it deliberately—the action of those who sought to tender at a lesser price than the schedule was really tantamount to a bribe offered to guardians of the poor to get the work done at a cheaper rate than the allotted scale. In his opinion that would come within the purview of the Corrupt Practices Act, and ought to be dealt with in that way. In reference to Mr. Byrne's remarks as to the membership of the Society, they heard constant complaints about the subject. It was a matter for regret that even members of the Society did not think it worth their while to vote. It was sad, but the fact remained that there was a sort of in attention to, and want of interest in, the affairs of the profession. As to how that was to be remedied, one did not well know the best course to take. Some seemed to think that the Council did not look after the interests of the profession sufficiently. Well, he had that opinion for many years himself ; but since they started a little agitation, and got on the Council some of those they conceived to be popular members of the profession, he was bound to say that, as far as he could see, there was no ground whatever for complaint (hear, hear) regarding the admirable and splendid work which the Council had been doing for some years past (hear, hear). Mr. Byrne had referred to the Recorder's Court and to the work. Well, they who practised in that Court found it essential in their own interest to start the Green-street Bar Association. He became one of the honorary officers of the Association. The same laxity had grown up amongst them there, and they could not even have meetings held. There seemed to be a want of interest amongst the