The Gazette 1927-30

[JUNE, 1929

The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

8

weight this atrocious measure, which in its present form spells waste of money, brains, energy and time, and which so far as I have been able, to ascertain from many queries throughout the country, is not wanted and has not been asked for by anyone save extreme and foolish idealists, quite ignorant of the necessary high legal education of our future Solicitors. Your Secretary and I have been in constant attendance on such occasion when the Bill has been before either House, and we shall continue to watch your interests on each future occasion of this debate. I take this opportunity in the presence of my professional brethren of thanking Mr. Travers V/olfe for his unfailing courtesy both in the House and out of it, and for his yeoman work in ably assisting our opposition. In conclusion, I remind you that if the Solicitors throughout the country make their voices heard, and withhold their money and influence from the support of those members of our Parliament now trying to force the tyrannical measure, we shall hear the last of this foolish Bill. OBITUARY. MR. DENIS J. MACC. MORROGH, Solicitor, died upon the 26th May, 1929, at Malahide, County Dublin. Mr. Morrogh served his apprenticeship with the late Mr. Thomas C. Franks, Dublin; was admitted in Hilary Sittings, 1897, and practised at Cork up to 1916, when he retired. APPOINTMENT. Mr. James Cooper, Solicitor, Enniskillen, has been appointed Crown Solicitor for the County of Fermanagh, in room of the late Mr. Oliver A. Pringle. PROFESSORSHIP OF COMMON LAW. The Council will, on Thursday, llth July, elect a Professor of Common Law to the Society, in room of Mr. Michael Dawson, Solicitor, whose term of office will expire at the end of Trinity Sittings. The new Pro fessor will enter upon his duties next October. felt by those who support

intended measure. That Special General Meeting being fully representative of the entire profession all over the Free State, deliberated seriously on the Bill, and by a majority of 110 to 8 passed a resolution against the Bill, and directed the Council to take all possible steps to oppose same. It is to be noted that at this meeting not one single voice, even an Irish-speaking voice, was raised in favour of the Bill, though Irish speakers spoke. Your Secretary and I, assisted by many members of the Council, and indeed many outside the Council and living in the country, did a little lobbying, and found an absolute lack of enthusiasm for the Bill, save in the minds of one or two, and on the report stage of the Bill, while it passed, the majority in favour was reduced by 16; the second reading being passed by what I can only describe as an artificial mechanical vote. VvTiile the Bill is not yet adopted as a Government Bill it is significant that several members of the Government Party voted against the measure, and at least one Minister of the Government abstained. Almost the entire of the public press of the country in leading articles have demonstrated the foolishness of bringing forward such a Bill, and some have expressed the forcing of the measure as an effort at political suicide, and so it may be. The Bill is at present before the Seriate, and on the motion for second reading the voting was 22 "Aye," 18 " No "—a very slender majority of 4. Several amendments have been put down by all parties in the Senate, and even by the promoters, in acknowledgment of the errors of thought. The promoters and some members of the Government must now appreciate that our profession throughout the country, while not using offensive expressions and jack-boot methods, can, in making their influence felt, act as sportsmen and gentlemen and yet be effective. I am confident that, thanks to our exertions, the Bill will not pass with its present objectionable features. You may rest assured that in looking after your own profession as well as in other ways for the benefit of our common country, the Solicitors of Ireland wield perhaps more power and influence than any other body of men, and it is now that we must make our