The Gazette 1912-13

JUNE, 1912]

The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

15

but as a member of the Council. The Council considered that ^the , matter was ^receiving consideration, and did not think ^that the delay was^so^serious as some^of the speakers seemedJio'think. Mr. Birrell had not flouted the Incorporated Law Society, as in his last letter he had /told them that he would submit to the Society the report which he would receive from the County Court Judges. He could not see the unreasonableness of consulting the County Court Judges, who were the people who had been working the procedure in the past, and who must be alive to the difficulties which it entailed. It would be surprising if the Government were to pass over the County Court Judges in considering the matter. They had already had reports from the Chambers of Commerce, therefore it was not necessary to go any further in that direction. Why should they call upon them to have meetings again to do what they had already done ? What they had to do was to get the matter forward and see that the promises given by Mr. Birrell to Mr. Brady were carried out. He (Mr. Macnamara) asked them not to pass the motion proposed by Mr. Craig, and he, therefore, wished to propose an amendment. MR. CRAIG' May I say that, having heard that statement from you, that the matter will not be lost sight of, I am quite prepared to withdraw any motion I brought forward. The motion brought forward by me is solely in the interest of getting some– thing done. It never crossed my mind that it was a vote of censure on the Council, or that it might be construed into an attack upon the County Court Judges. MR. MACNAMARA. I think it might be better if this amendment were passed : That the Society desires again to express the opinion that legislation for the purpose of amending the existing law and procedure of the County Courts in Ireland is urgently required, and to express the hope that the result of the reference of the question to the County Court Judges of Ireland to report upon, will be the intro– duction, at an early date, by the Govern– ment of a Bill dealing with the matter. MR. BRADY. Does that mean we are foregoing the Commission ? Are you rescinding the solemn act of a representative meeting ?

MR. MACNAMARA. We are not at all rescinding the old resolution, but we are dealing with the matter as it now stands. By the letter from Mr. Birrell to Mr. Brady it appears that when all these reports have come in he will introduce a Bill. MR. BRADY. Please add that to the motion, and then there will be no objection. MR.W. J. SHANNON. It would be better to withdraw it altogether. Mr. James Brady seems to think that if we pass this resolution we will be going back on our former resolution. THE PRESIDENT. The amendment has not yet been seconded, and so, perhaps, it would be as well to withdraw both the motion and the amendment. MR. MACNAMARA. If it be the sense of the meeting that the motion be withdrawn, planation, I withdraw my motion. MR. JAMES BRADY moved the following resolution : " That inasmuch as permitting any person " other than a qualified Solicitor to prosecute, " conduct or defend legal proceedings in " Courts of Justice on behalf of Government " Departments, or Public Bodies, is a " violation of the rights of the Solicitors' " profession, and against the interests of the " public, this meeting hereby requests the " Government to take the necessary steps for " the purpose of having repealed any sections " in existing Statutes which purport to " empower officials who are not qualified " Solicitors to act on behalf of any such " Government Departments or Public Bodies " in the conduct of legal proceedings insti- " tuted in connection therewith, and further " requests the Council of this Society to " continue to take all necessary precautions " to prevent the insertion of similar sections " in any future Statutes." He said he felt convinced the motion would not alone receive the whole-hearted support of the meeting, but of the Council. He also believed he would have the strong support of the President of the Society, than whom there was no wanner advocate of the rights and privileges of the profession. then I withdraw the amendment. MR. CRAIG. Having heard the ex–