The Gazette 1908-9

JUNE, 1908]

The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

16

should use whatever influence we have with our Parliamentary representatives so that the claims of this Incorporated Law Society might be pressed home upon the Government. You are aware that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, one of the most important members of the Cabinet, is to-day a practising solicitor. There are many of our profession in Parliament, and they, like ourselves, must be anxious to main– tain the high standard of our profession, and, therefore, I think that I may safely anticipate that a resolution such as the one I submit to you will not fall upon unsympathetic ears. I beg to move accordingly that: "This " general meeting of the members of the " Incorporated Law Society of Ireland respect- " fully urge upon the Right Hon. the Chief " Secretary for Ireland the desirability of repre- " sentation of the Society upon the Senate of " the propose.d new University to be estab- " lished in Dublin. It is submitted that as " the conduct of all examinations of those " intending to enter the solicitors' profession " in Ireland is entrusted to the Incorporated " Law Society of Ireland, by virtue of the "Solicitors (Ireland) Act, 1898, and as the " various provisions of that Act give students " of universities facilities for entering the soli- " citors' profession, the Society is entitled to " representation upon the Senates of the new " Universities proposed to be established in " Ireland. The Council would desire to point " out that the Law Society of England has two " representatives upon the Senate of the Uni- " versity of London, as well as having repre- " sentatives upon the governing bodies of " other universities and colleges in England. " That copies of this resolution be sent to the " Right Hon. the Chief Secretary for Ireland, " Mr. John Redmond, M.P., the members for " the City and County of Dublin, and to any "other Members of Parliament who may be " solicitors." MR. R. A. MACNAMARA : I have great pleasure in seconding the resolution. I think Mr. Fry has said so much that he has left very little for me to say. But having regard to the fact that we accept I presume we will accept the examinations of this new University in lieu of our preliminary exami– nations here; that we are responsible for the education of our apprentices, and deal largely with educational work, I think we ought to be entitled to representation on the Senate of the University. I understand there will be a Commission sitting to fix the provisions to be made for the various schools,

and of course the School of Law will be one of them, and it will be necessary that the Incorporated Law Society will be in a position to give evidence before that Commission, and see that the School of Law is looked after and adequately endowed. MR. JAMES BRADY : I regret I was not in in time to hear the full statement of my friend Mr. Fry; but I am totally opposed to the resolution, and, being totally opposed to the resolution, I am entirely against this new University scheme. I do not intend to delay this meeting for any length of time, but I wish to say that I have formed an opinion of this scheme, which does not at all agree with its promoters. Rightly or wrongly, my opinion is that the scheme is being promulgated solely in the interest of continuing the sectarian strife that has existed in this country unfortunately for some years past, and that if those who are anxious for a University have the interest of their own country at heart, they would formulate such a scheme as would endeavour to end that sectarian strife. In my opinion it does not matter two rows of pins how many Universities you may have in Belfast or Cork, or how many you may have in Dublin, or in any other of the centres in Ireland. But it does interest the country to have one great national University, to which every member of the community, no matter to what section or creed he might belong, would have freedom to go as he might desire. The present scheme is unquestionably one formulated on sectarian plans. MR. J. P. LYNCH : I don't like to interrupt my friend Mr. Brady, but I submit, on a question of order, that the question before the meeting is If the University is formed, is it desirable we should be represented ? The question is not Is it desirable to have a new University ? I think it is a pity in a meeting like this, where matters of politics and religion are entirely excluded, that questions should be introduced that perhaps may create a jar between members. MR. JAMES BRADY: With great respect to Mr. Lynch, I don't think I have said one offensive word. MR. STRITCH : To put the thing in order, I propose that the question be now put. MR. E. M. LLOYD : I second that. MR. JAMES BRADY: I desire to have a vote taken on that amendment. I was merely speaking against Mr. Fry's motion. I am only