The Gazette 1933-36

DECEMBER, 1933]

The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

29

Examinations in Irish.

a request that a similar provision to prevent their circulation should be inserted in the proposed new Courts of Justice Bill, and I hope that this request will be acceded to. There would also appear to be an increase in the number of debt collecting agencies and so-called associations for the protection of trade, and in referring to these associations I do not for a moment wish it to be thought that I am in any way attacking those well- known firms which have been in existence for a considerable time and which do such excellent work for their members. What I am referring to is the association employing some high-sounding title (usually a one-man concern) and whose objects are to do work usually performed by members of our pro– fession, and who frame their correspondence in such a manner as to suggest to the public that they are qualified legal practitioners. Your Council are always on the alert to prevent any infringement of the rights of Solicitors, and the Society will not hesitate to prosecute in any case where the facts justify them in doing so. Members of Society. The number of members of the Society at present is 768, an increase of 19 over the figure mentioned by me in May last, but two less than the corresponding number for this time last year. There are 1,249 Solicitors practising at the moment in the Irish Free State, of which 481 are not members of this Society. I appeal to all of these gentlemen to become members. Quite apart from the advantages which membership of this Society can offer in various ways, it is, I think, of the utmost importance from a mere business point of view that all practising Solicitors in their own interests should be members. Let me give you one example. It is common knowledge that a considerable amount of business goes to Solicitors who practise in the country through the offices of Dublin Solicitors who are members of the Society. I think I am right in saying that when we in Dublin have to employ an agent in a country town and we find that in that particular town there are fellow-practitioners who are mem– bers of the Society, we always give them the preference over. Solicitors who are ' not members, and for the very good reason that we feel that they are friends and colleague's of our own. Golfing Society. ; ..... I had the honour of being present at the

The Legal Practitioners (Qualification) Act, 1929, as you know, applies to every intending apprentice who was under the age of 15 years on the 1st October, 1929. Intending apprentices who come within the provisions of this Act must, before being bound by indentures of apprenticeship, pass a first examination in Irish, conducted by the Society under the Act, and before they can be admitted as Solicitors will have to pass what is referred to in the Act as the "Second Examination " in Irish, also to be con– ducted by the Society. For this second examination every apprentice must possess a competent knowledge of the Irish Language, and this knowledge, as defined by the Act, means such a degree of oral and written proficiency in the use of the language as is sufficient to enable a practitioner efficiently to receive instructions, to advise clients, to examine witnesses, and to follow proceedings in the Irish Language. The first apprentices who will be required to pass this " Second Examination " will present themselves for examination about April, 1935, and the Court of Examiners recently had under their consideration the test that will be applied in order to comply with the provisions of the Act, which we are bound to enforce loyally and which it is our intention to do. It would appear to us, after consultation with our Examiner in Irish, Mr. Thomas P. Waller, that apprentices will have to maintain a continuous study of the Irish Language from the time they pass their first examination in Irish, and cannot rely on being able to pass the test by merely working at the subject a few months before they sit for same. The Court of Examiners will shortly issue for the guidance of apprentices a list of the books, etc., which they should study. Debt Collecting. Some of our members have recently brought under our notice objectionable debt collecting forms. These notices, which are in print, are sent out by traders to their debtors, and are framed in such a way as to imply that they are documents issued by a Court and have some legal effect. Similar notices have appeared for some time past in England, and a provision to prohibit their circulation was inserted in a recent County Court Bill which will shortly be introduced in that country. Your Council has sent copies of these notices to the Minister for Justice, with