The Gazette 1921-25

[JUNF . 1922

The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

Irish Government gets into working order that matters—most important matters— regarding the legal administration in this country will come under review and revision. If legal reform under a new Government becomes practical politics this Society will be found ready to co-operate in any movement of the kind. Speaking for myself only, I have long held the view that there is a pressing necessity for legal reform in this country. This is not the time to discuss this question much less to discuss such reform in detail. Some time ago two articles entitled " The Passing of a Profession " appeared in the Irish Times. The writer adopted the nom-de-plume of " Solicitor." It was a bold article and, whilst I do not agree with everything in it, the opinion therein expressed that legal procedure in Ireland should be less cumber some, more expeditious and less expensive is, it seems to me, a sound and well founded opinion. The public and the Profession would alike gain by simplification and dispatch. The reform of the County Court, for instance, has long ago been pressed for by the mercantile community, but without success. This Society introduced several County Court Bills in the British House of Commons, but none of them ever reached the Statute Book. Again reminding you that I am offering no opinion but my own, I venture to think that a Committee set up by an Irish Government would be very well employed in considering the whole question of the administration of the law in this country. This Society is the natural mouthpiece of the Profession. Its Council is composed of men of ripe and varied experience in the practice of the law.- The wealth of information and experience which will be thus at the disposal of any Govern ment will be of enormous advantage in consideration of any questions affecting legal administration. In conclusion, we all as Irishmen fervently long to see established in our midst an Irish Government broad-based upon the people's will. We trust that at the earliest moment the people will be given an opportunity of constitutionally expressing their will and that our country may then enter, under the aegis of a well ordered native Government upon a period of peace and prosperity.

being denied access to the Library, Halls and premises of the Society. I sincerely hope that this state of affairs will be of short duration. If I dwell on these facts, I do so only so far as they affect our Profession. This Society is entirely non- political and, needless to say, I have no intention of addressing you on the political state of our country. Intimately con versant, however, as our work is with the social and commercial life of the community, it follows that anything that injures the community as a whole reacts with peculiar force on our Profession Bearing this in mind, the Council as far back as January last passed the following resolution :— " We, the Council of the Incorporated Law " Society of Ireland, recognising the injury " done to the material well being of the " community by public uncertainty and " consequent disquietude do hereby express " an earnest hope that the deliberations of " the Irish Representatives may result in " a decision bringing peace to our country, " so that without delay the work of con- " struction may begin and every citizen be " free to take his part in building up the " prosperity of the country on which the " true interest of the legal profession must " be always based." To-day I fervently re-echo the sentiments expressed in that resolution and I hope that out of much turmoil and strife, much de plorable loss of life, much anxiety and depression, there will speedily come a new and better state of affairs whereby con fidence may be restored and peace prevail. Later on in the same month of January when the Provisional Government was established the Council took the earliest opportunity of assuring the Minister for Home Affairs, whom as a Solicitor they heartily congratulated on his appointment to so responsible a position, of their desire to assist the Government by every means in their power, whether in questions of legal administration or otherwise, and that they would welcome any suggestions made to them with that object. Some time ago rumours were in circulation that the new Government contemplated sweeping changes in the administration of the law in this country. It may well be that when an