The Gazette 1927-30

DECEMBER, 1929]

The Gacette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

27

.gratified that we have got through a great amount of useful work for the profession. Those of you who have not served as yet upon the Council can have little idea of the amount of work and the many calls upon time which have to be performed and obeyed by any serving in the true spirit, and I would like to pay tribute to the members of our profession who have served upon the Council in the last year. They are all busy men, and many of them live very far away, but each and all have given wonderful .attendance and valuable service. MEMBERSHIP OF TEE SOCIETY. The membership of the Society keeps fairly constant, but I can never understand why each member of our profession is not a member of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland. I had the extreme pleasure of being able to accept the invitation of the Incorporated Law Society of Northern Ireland just a week ago, and I think it may interest you to know that quite a large number of members of •our Northern sister Society are members •of our society, and they expressed their j leasure and determination to continue their membership and the hope that they would increase that common membership. I know that we shall always have some who for one particular reason or another will stay outside the ranks though they practise under the protection of our Society, but they are few, and I am satisfied that in some cases abstention is caused by absence of knowledge. It is with feelings of thankfulness that I note that since our last Half-yearly meeting no vacancies on the Council have been caused by death, though I must mention the sudden demise of a true friend of the Society in Master Macnamara. THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS' (Qualifica tion) BILL. This Bill with amendments has become law, and while in its amended form it is less objectionable to that when introduced, I cannot say that it has been received with kindly feelings by any member of our pro fession, but I have stated on behalf of the Council that we shall ask our profession

to loyally carry out the spirit of the Act as well as the letter, and I know we shall do so, because after all no matter what some people may say, the Solicitors of Ireland are a loyal law abiding integral part of the com munity. I feel that although we carry out the Act, it may prove to be the winding sheet of some political reputations, but there it is, and we have already considered the necessary and suitable Regulations for putting the Act into effect. CERTIFICATE DUTY. You will note that our efforts, more than ably assisted by the Incorporated Law Society of Northern Ireland, have borne fruit, and now it is not necessary for a Solicitor practising in Northern Ireland as well as in the Irish Free State, admitted before 1st October, 1921, or a Solicitor who on that date was an apprentice, to pay more than one certificate duty for the privilege of so practising. I here pay willing tribute to Mr. J. H. G. Wilson, the President of the Incorporated Law Society of Northern Ireland, and his Council, but for whose seconding and supporting our efforts this happy and reasonable state of affairs could not have been brought about. INCOME TAX COLLECTION. The Council have, I believe, properly safeguarded the interest of the profession as to actions by Income Tax Collectors suing in person, and as to the suggested alteration in the Circuit Court Fee Funds. CIRCUIT COURT RULES. The Rules for the procedure in the Circuit Court have been passed by the Circuit Courts Rule Making Committee. We are represented on that Committee by Mr. Bradley and Mr. Morgan, who have worked energetically. COURTS OF JUSTICE ACT; The question of amending the Courts of Justice Act, 1924, is to be considered by a Joint Committee of both Houses, and there fore I say little on the subject, other than that the inquiry is due to the attitude of