The Gazette 1912-13

The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

18

[JUNE, 1912

courted defeat and loss. With regard to the trade unions, he agreed with Mr. Brady that in endeavouring to obtain rights which only Solicitors and Banisters should have, they were absolutely breaking the first law of trades unionism (hear, hear). The only way to remedy the matter would be to have a general strike of Solicitors. He was sure if they ever had to undergo that terrible experience Mr. Brady would be the Jim Larkin (laughter and applause). MR. BRADY said he was pleased to see that the North and South Dublin Unions, also Balrothery Union now had their Solicitors ; so after all he thought they had done some good. MR. D. A. QUAID said action should always be taken before the event. It seemed to him to be a very strange thing that all this legislation could be enacted without protest, effective protest. Most of these Bills Labourers and other Bills were sent to the Grand Committee on Law, and it seemed to him strange that the Council of the Incorporated Law Society were not able to deal with these matters. He thought, with all respect, that a little more energy should be imported into the scrutiny of these matters in the House of Commons. MR. RICE (Vice-President) said that Mr. Quaid was mistaken in thinking the Council was not keeping the closest watch on pending legislation. But it was a different thing fighting a clause and to succeed in getting it eliminated, particularly when the Govern– ment of the day insisted on it. THE PRESIDENT said that his experience was that the Council got those Bills, read them, and considered how they affected the pro– fession, and then made representations to try and have them amended. On several occasions during the last seven or eight years they had succeeded in getting amendments made. If they looked at the Shops Act they would see it brought in portion of the Factories Act. The Section (Sec. 120) that provided that inspectors, if authorised in writing, though not a Counsel, Solicitor, or law agent, could prosecute and conduct or defend before a Court of summary jurisdic– tion, had been omitted. He thought it was a great thing for the Incorporated Law Society to have this Section struck out. It

showed that they did not wait until after the event. Another matter was the Coroners Bill, which was brought in at the instance of the Labour Party. They wanted in that Bill to get power to attend Coroners' Courts and to examine witnesses. That Bill would be down for second reading the following day; but it was a private Member's Bill. He hap– pened to be in London last week on business connected with the Incorporated Law Society, and he took the opportunity of urging on the English Law Society to support them in opposing the Bill. The resolution proposed by Mr. Brady was then put, with the following words added : " And to secure that the claims of the legal " profession to legal appointments, such " as Resident Magistrates, be further " recognised," and was unanimously adopted. The proceedings then terminated. A LETTER was read from a country member asking the opinion of the Council on the etiquette of a Solicitor undertaking to act as Board of Trade Agent under the unemploy– ment portion of the National Insurance Act. The Council directed a reply stating they would not consider the acceptance by a Solicitor of such an office to be a breach of professional etiquette. Dublin Sessions Bar. A letter was read from the Hon. Sec. of the Dublin Sessions Bar requesting informa– tion as to the action of the Council in reference to rules under the Labourers Acts, and in reference to the National Insurance Act. A reply stating the action of the Council relative to both matters was approved of. A further letter was read from the Hon. Sec. of the Dublin Sessions Bar suggesting some amend– ments to the Bye-laws of the Society. A reply was directed giving information relative to the settlement of the particular Bye-laws referred to, at general meetings in recent years. Meetings of the Council. 0 May 1st. National Insurance Act.