The Gazette 1913-14

The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

60

[DECEMBER, 1913

year—that is to say, the alteration of the terms in connection with the Easter and Whitsuntide holidays. You are all aware of the intolerable inconvenience and waste of time that took place in consequence of these holidays occurring in term. I am glad to say that the rule which appears in the Report has now become a Statutory rule. STATUTORY COMMITTEE. There is only one other matter to which I would make any special reference, that is the paragraph in the Report in con nection with the jurisdiction exercised by the Statutory Committee. I am very glad to say that during the past year not a single case has resulted in a report to the Lord Chancellor (applause). I think that fact speaks well for the honour and honesty of the profession to which we all belong. I have the honour to submit this Report, and I will ask you to adopt it (applause). MR. DENNING seconded the motion, and said that the President had covered the ground so well that it was impossible for him to add anything to it. SIR GEORGE ROCHE congratulated the President and the Council on the very satisfactory Report which had been sub mitted. He regretted to find amongst the recent deaths those of two Lord Chancellors. The late Lord Ashbourne always took the deepest interest in their profession. Lord Chancellor Barry did so also, but he was only a short time in office. He wished to refer, with regret also, to the death of Mr. Edward Fitzgerald, who was President of the Society, and for whom he entertained the greatest respect. They had both started together. The late Mr. Fitzgerald was a gentleman who occupied a very high position in his profes sion, and he was sure they all tendered his. family their deepest sympathy (hear, hear). He desired to refer to circulars sent out with respect to the election of members of the Council, in which certain statements were made with reference to appointments which it was alleged could have been secured for members of the profession if proper repre sentations had been made by the Council; and he said while members of the profession did not get as many appointments as could be wished, the appointments which had been

obtained were secured in consequence of representations made by the Council. With regard to the education of 'apprentices, he really did not- know what there was to complain of on the subject. But he was sure all these matters would be dealt with by the incoming Council. He would not refer further to the sending out of circulars relative to the election on the Council ; that was a matter of taste. He referred to these matters, in a friendly way only, but he thought it right to say that such statements should not be made lightly and without foundation (hear, hear). MR. CUSSEN said a memorandum 'had been prepared by him at the request of a number of solicitors in the country. It was not a circular, but it was prepared and printed for circulation. For a considerable time past there had been a strong under current of feeling running through the minds of country solicitors to the effect that Councils in the past had not given the attention which they ought to have given to the interests of the country solicitors, especially with regard to small appointments. It was suggested that in the case of such appointments as clerkships in the Legacy and Succession Duty Office an effort should be made to keep them open for solicitors. It was also felt that the country members who pay ten shillings per annum to the • Society should be allowed to vote at the election of ordinary members of Council. MR. JAMES BRADY said the County Courts Bill seemed to be a never-ending subject, so far as the Society was concerned. He thought that having regard to the Chief Secretary's reply the conference between the County Court Judges and the Council should have been held sooner than yesterday or the day before. He did not see why any Govern ment should be blamed for that. He also suggested that they should get into touch with certain members of the profession who were also Members of Parliament, and who had put down amendments to the Bill, with a view of seeing what exactly they wished to be done. He was quite sick of the County Court Bill, and thought it should be ended or amended. With reference to the sending out of circulars, the speaker complained that the