The Gazette 1912-13

The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

DECEMBER, 1912J

63

because they knew every man must retire. He would strongly urge the meeting not to pass the motion, and to leave things as they were at present (hear, hear). THE PRESIDENT said that they would see in the report what was done during Vacation with reference to County Court procedure. But it did not tell them what he had told them that day, that a report on the subject had been actually forwarded to the Lord Chancellor. The preparation of that report was going on in the month of October, and it was not completed until the other day, so that the fact of its being sent in, could not be stated in the Council report, and he was of opinion that the report of the Council should not be circulated much earlier than it has been in the past. MR. CRAIG said before the motion was put he wished to say one or two words. He did not think the motion had been met by any real business argument. It was said that if the motion were carried out the report would only be a six, eight or ten months' report, but he took it that would only apply to the first report. If his motion were adopted it would mean that the report would be put a fortnight back. But they would have a general meeting, and it would be quite open to the President to tell them anything that transpired since the report was sent out, as he had done that day. The report was dated the 30th October, and now, twenty-six days after, the general body of members were asked to adopt it although it had been only in their hands at most for eight days. Surely it is possible to send it out a fortnight or three weeks earlier than that, and that every member should have an opportunity of con sidering it and knowing exactly what is going on. It had been said that this was an unheard of proposition for an old member of the Council'not seeking re-election to say so, but he ventured to say that if they took up the report of any board of directors they would see in it that Mr. So-and-so was retiring and did or did not seek re-election. MR. MACNAMARA.—The whole board does not go out. MR. CRATG.—That is quite right; but these members going out say whether they intend to seek re-election. Many members of the Society did not like themselves to be nominated as candidates for the Council,

because they thought it looked as if they were putting themselves up against existing members of the Council, which they would not care to do ; and there are many men who, if they knew there were going to be vacancies on the Council, would allow their names to go forward. He did not see any hardship in stating that a member did or did not intend seeking re-election. That was all the motion asked for. He thought his motion was a business-like proposition, and if they were ever to make the Council a really representa tive body of the whole profession arid induce the Solicitors throughout the country to have confidence in and join the Incorporated Law Society they must take some steps like that. There was an impression abroad that the business of the Council was carried on in secret. That idea should be got rid of, and the members of the profession should be induced to join the Society. MR. W. H. GEOGHEGAN said he saw the last item in the report was the results of the. examination of apprentices. If Mr. Craig's motion were carried the results of the October examinations could not possibly appear. Possibly some arrangements might be made under the existing conditions with a view to expediting the printing of the report without disturbing the present system. MR. CRAIG.—Didn't you know the result of the examinations on the 30th October ? THE PRESIDENT.—That is the day we did know them. MR. R. A. O'BRIEN said that if the report was issued earlier they would be placed in the anomalous position that the incoming Council would have to include in their report the fag end of the preceding year. THE PRESIDENT said the Council was only appointed for one year from the present date—the 26th November. On that date the entire Council went out. It was not a question of retiring or anything else—it was extin guished and ended. The old Council of 1911-12 was defunct that day, and that day the new Council was in office for 1912-13. To suggest that the report of the annual working of the Council was to be only prepared up to the month of July, and that the work of September and October was to be left out, was not right. It would be only a nine months' report, and the new Council would