The Gazette 1921-25

DECEMBER, 1921] The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

37

Since we last met many of the principal Officials of the Law Courts, with whom we have been associated in our professional work for years past, have retired. .These retirements comprise quite a long list of names ranging over most of the Courts from the Appeal Court, Master of the Rolls Court, Lunacy Offices, King's Bench Division, Probate Offices, Land Judges, Receiver Office, Record and Writ Office, Registration of Title and Deeds, and it would be invidious to single out any particular name for special reference or eulogy. The Solicitors, however, through me, express to these gentlemen their appreciation of official courtesy, help and attention during a long official association, and a sense of the loss both to the public service and in their professional duties which the retirement of these gentlemen entails. At the same time, in bidding good-bye and God speed to old official friends I take the opportunity of welcoming the successors to such of these positions as have been filled, and. who, coming from the ranks of the law, are not strangers to us, and I express the hope that they may fulfil as worthily as their predecessors their duties to all concerned in the discharge of their important Official duties, and assure them of the support and goodwill of the Solicitors in their new responsibilities and promotion. I have received letters from many of them, and it was a great satisfaction to me to note the testimony paid by them to the work of our Law Clerks and staffs of Solicitors' offices with whom they came in contact, and which will be gratifying to that body. The 1st of October marked a legal cataclysm in this country in its division into two separate legal jurisdictions and that too in a country the legal business of which: had for centuries been hitherto efficiently administered under one. The Council made official protest against it, and endeavoured by amendments to the Bill to retain the whole country under one jurisdiction, but without avail. The setting up of the Northern jurisdiction has taken from amongst us some of those men most appreciated in our local legal life. Mr. Denis Henry, as Lord Chief Justice, and Mr. Justice Moore, as a Lord Justice, have elected to go North. They came from it, and who shall say that when, as we lawyers

express it, they were " put to their election " they can be blamed for their choice, however much we may regret it. They were sufficiently long amongst us to inspire in us a very high sense of respect and regard, and a feeling of regret at their departure from amongst us. To Mr. James Andrews, who at the Bar had earned our complete confidence, and who is promoted to be a Lord Justice of Appeal in Northern Ireland, we send both our greetings and regrets. We felicitate him on his promotion—we deplore the loss of his genial personality and skilful advocacy. If I were to indulge in dreams of the unification of jurisdiction once more in this country, I would be accused of becoming political—suffice it that we in the South are not attracted by a system which has deprived us of men like these. This, however, is a personal note and by the way. From larger and professional standpoints, however, this division of jurisdiction is full of difficulty and affords no guarantee of increased efficiency. I do not labour the subject on this occasion more than to say that I deplore this par tition as a great blow to the legal profession, and opposed to that unity which, in any phase of national life, especially in a small country, whether political, professional, commercial or otherwise, stands for strength, national stability and efficiency, and much will depend on keeping j the rules and pro cedure in both jurisdictions identical. The ladies have now invaded, or are attempting to invade, our profession under their new statutory privilege, and there are already several lady apprentices in process of qualification. Our apprentices continue to be a care of the Society, and more especially of the Committee responsible for educational matters. The Apprentices' Debating Society has held fourteen meetings during the year. They have the use of premises for holding their meetings given by the Society, which also financially assists it, and for impromptu speeches, oratory and legal debate, gold and silver medals are awarded to encourage attention to these important items of legal education. I commend to each Solicitor who. may happen to have an apprentice in his office,