The Gazette 1944-46

I told you in May last of our efforts to secure at least a modification of the increased Fees payable under the Land Registration Fee Order of 1944. We have been completely unsuccessful in this. The Committee appointed by the Minister for Justice to consider the Order, made two reports to the Minister. The minority report was signed by Mr. John B. Hamill and myself. This Report, on reasoned grounds, suggested various modifications of the fees, but the Minister refused to accept our views and adopted the report of the majority of the members of the Committee appointed, so that the considerably increased Land Registry Fees are payable. It is surprising that the Minister did not give more consideration to the views expressed by Mr. Hamill and myself. I am still unconvinced that there was any justi fication for the steep increases in Fees imposed— and the increased Fees are an imposition—by the 1944 Order. However, I have no doubt that you will wish to have this matter discussed further later on. Early in this year, the then Minister for Finance met a Deputation from the Council to discuss complaints by us on the inadequate salaries offered to solicitors appointed to certain State Departments. Whilst our interview was to some extent successful, we find that the same scale of salary has been offered for a post which recently became vacant. The Minister was communicated with, and we have been informed that there can be no upward revision of the salary scale whilst the present—one-sided—stand-still policy exists. This, we regard as most unsatisfac tory, and I take this opportunity to protest against the inadequacy of the salary offered, and the distinction in salary made by the Minister between men and women solicitors. A lower salary is offered to women solicitors. Why this should be, I am at a loss to understand. I am perfectly satisfied that ladies competent enough to be appointed, should not be penalised because of their sex. Indeed, I think that, by general consent and approval, we have long since passed the age when any such distinction should be made. The Department wants to obtain the services of young men of good qualifications and ability, but it cannot hope to retain them, or in future, to obtain suitable solicitors, unless they will be adequately remunerated. Perhaps, here, I might be permitted to say that the policy of the Minister for Finance as to salaries for such appointments, is in strange contrast with the policy of the Minister for Justice in regard to Fees payable by the public to the Land Registry, which fees have been "upwardly revised." 51

J. J. Lynch 339, H. O'Donnell 327, J. J. Bol- ger 322, J. R. Quirke 319, M. G. R. Lardner 316, I. J. Dunne 313, R. A. Macaulay 313, J. J. Smyth 303, Roger Greene 299, C. G. Stapleton 282, F. J. W. Barley 279, J. J. Dundon 276, J. P. Tyrrell 258, with the following as the supple mental list in case of vacancies : Joseph Barrett, 249, P. C. Moore 245, D. R. Pigot 226. The President, in moving the adoption of the I am pleased to have this opportunity of again addressing you and I am very glad to see you here to-day. Your presence shows that you take an active interest in the affairs of the Society, and the members of the Council are more than pleased that you should take this interest. Since our last Half-Yearly Meeting, in May last, the Council has continued to actively look after the interests of our profession, and has been very busy in. that direction. During the past six months, death has taken a large number of our profession. These include Mr. Goodlett Hamill, Mr. Gore-Grimes, Mr. M. C. Burke, Mr. James J. Dudley, Mr. Charles W. Russell, Mr. George Crowley, Mr. John J. Beatty, Mr. Arthur E. Bradley, a former President of this Society, and a Member of the Council for many years ; Mr. Charles S. Quinlan, Mrs. Mary Nugent, Mr. Michael Dorgan, Mr. Francis P. Long, Mr. Timothy D. McCoy, Mr. George B. Caruth and Mr. Albert J. O'Donoghue. We deeply regret their passing; and to their relatives we offer our sympathy. During the past year, following the active efforts of your Council, 126 new members have joined the Society. This is very satisfactory, but even yet, our membership is not what it should be. We should have as members of the Society, every practising Solicitor, and I look forward to the day when we shall have this. I ask the mem bers here to-day, each of them, to do his and her share to get new members. As you will see from the Report of the Council, we have been very busy with matters affecting the profession and the public. During the year, we have held seventeen Meetings of the Council, and about forty Meetings of Committees of the Council, and the Statutory Committee has held twelve meetings. All these have been well at tended by most of the Council Members, despite existing travelling inconveniences. We can hope for improved attendances, with less transport difficulties. Annual Report said :— Ladies and Gentlemen,