The Gazette 1936-40

The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland

, .1938}

:,.The High Court on circuit held its first sittings for the hearing of appeals from the Circuit Court in the month of March in the present year. Litigants in their own area had a patient and dignified hearing of their grievances, and were satisfied that justice was done, I have every feeling that the new system of appeals has justified itself. Menibers of the profession will, no doubt, be aware that at the recent election for the Seanad the Society was given a right to nominate candidates on the Cultural Panel. The Council did nominate two. Unfortunately neither was elected. Should in the future it be desired that the members of the Seanad be elected on a vocational basis, that end may be better attained by a method other than that adopted at the recent election. Since the last General Meeting Solicitors called the attention of the Council to various matters of interest to the profession. It is impossible here to refer to all of these. One of general interest, however, was a complaint in respect of the quality and price of carbon paper and typewriter ribbons which were available for the profession. The Council communicated with the Minister for Industry and Commerce. It is believed that much of the cause for complaint has been removed. At the last -General Meeting a resolution was carried expressing the opinion that the Council should consider whether further .statutory powers should be sought to ensure the better discipline of and the regulation of admission to the Solicitors' profession. In the course of the debate on that resolution several matters of vital interest to the Solicitors' profession were ventilated. The Council appointed a special committee of twelve of its members to consider the effect of the resolution and how the wishes of the meeting should be best given effect to. That committee has had several meetings .and has made interim reports, but it has not completed or concluded its work. At an early date the Council will have the final report of its committee, and will in the .appropriate manner submit to the profession its conclusions. It will be in the recollection of those who have attended General Meetings of the Law Society that some years ago a President in his address drew attention to the need for .books dealing with Irish law, and intimated

that the Council had 'given anxious con sideration to the question of how these books could be procured. I was convinced then, and in the • light of the further years' experience since I am more than convinced now, that this is a matter ' of vital importance to the profession, and so I will ask you to bear with me while I inform you of what has been done by the Council; Some four or five years ago a member of the Council, a county practitioner engaged continuously in Circuit Court and District Court practices in the past, made a com munication to the Council directing attention to the need for books on Irish law and practice. He pointed out that many of the books, every day referred to in his office, were then considerably out of date and were, for the most part, unprocurable. He mentioned particularly Carleton's County Court Practice, O'Connor's Justice of the Peace, Babington's Equity, and Vanston's various books: on Local Government and Public Health. The Council,'• after ! discussion, were so impressed with' the importance of the matter' that they appointed a committee, and that committee in time reported that these books were essential,' and ' that it wais absolutely necessary that they should be procured and made suitable for the new Circuit Court and, District Court, which took the place of the old County Court and Petty Sessions. , •. The committee was then asked to consider the matter more fully with special reference to the question of the cost of producing' the books and of 'ho'w such cost was to be borne. Estimates were invited from several printing firms, which were accustomed to the production of law books and it was ascertained that an issue of 500 copies would cost £1 per page, which would work otit at about £2 per book of 1,000 pages. It was obvious that, such books would have to be re-written or, edited, by lawyers' of standing and experience. Various views were expressed of what that would cost and it was finally considered that it would add at least £1 to the cost per book. At this stage the Council communicated with the Bar and the Bar : Council sent two representatives (then both eminent Counsel) to join in the deliberations of the committee.