The Gazette 1946-49

colleagues on the Council. They and our Secretary, Mr. Eric Plunkett, have made a pleasure of the honourable task which devolves upon the holder of my office. To each and all of you I extend my thanks and my best wishes. The adoption of the report was seconded by Mr. Louis E. O'Dea. Mr. P. F. O'Reilly speaking on the report opposed the suggestion that solicitors should be asked to wear gowns when appearing as advocates, and stated that it would be impractic able owing to the absence of any robing facilities in most courts. Mr. Roger Greene was in favour of the wearing of the gown, on the grounds that it would increase the respect of the public for the Courts and the administration of justice. Messrs. Ivan Howe, J. J. Dunne, W. S. Huggard and L. E. O'Dea also spoke against the making of any general recommendation that solicitors should wear gowns on the grounds of the absence of robing facilities and the dilapidated condition of many country courts. Mr. Michael L. O'Connell on behalf of the Kerry Bar Association stated that in his Bar Association a recommendation had been issued to all the members asking them to wear gowns when appearing in Court, and stated that this recommendation was being observed in Co. Kerry, and that he hoped nothing would go from the meeting which would tend to its non-observance. The President, in winding up the discussion stated that there was a division of opinion on the subject and that the matter had best be left to the Committees of the individual Bar Associations. The report of the Council was then put to the meeting and unani mously adopted. The following resolution was then proposed by Mr. P. F. O'Reilly: " That this meeting is of the opinion that the rates of stamp duty imposed by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1947, are excessive and unjust, and that the former rates of the duty should be restored at the first available opportunity." The motion was seconded by Mr. William S. Huggard. The following members also spoke to the motion : Messrs. Walsh, Ivan Howe, Desmond Moran, J. R. Quirke. The motion was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. The following motion was then proposed by Mr. James R. Quirke : " That the following persons be appointed to be members of the nominating committee for the Cultural and Educational Panel, pursuant to Section 22 of the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1947, and that all necessary steps be taken to give effect thereto ; and that the Seal of the Society be affixed to all necessary documents : Messrs. Patrick R. Boyd, Arthur Cox, W. J. Norman, P. F. O'Reilly, Sean 0 hUadhaigh."

should never be undertaken without ascertaining that there is no other member of the profession concerned for the insured. Delays in the Adjudication Office We are still making representations about the delays in adjudicating deeds, so far without perceptible results. If, indeed, this be due to under- staffing, combined with the increase in the number of classes of instruments which are required to be subjected to this process, I think the public interest demands an immediate remedy. The duties now collected by way of stamps are so unprecedentedly heavy that any necessary increase in the staff would be justified. It means very little one way or another to the solicitor, but it would be a serious matter for the client if such delays as now commonly occur in adjudication should be responsible for a purchase deed of a valuable property losing its priority owing to non-registration and the purchaser finding his title defeated by a creditor of the vendor. Defence of Poor Persons on murder charges Once more we have to complain of the utterly inadequate fees allowed to lawyers who are assigned to the defence in capital cases. An assignment casts the heaviest burden on the practitioners concerned. The fees allowed on the present scale in many cases would not cover the travelling and hotel expenses incurred. Legal aid for the poor litigant is something much to be desired, but not by the profession if the fees in assignment cases are to be taken as an indication of what might be expected if the application of the principle were extended. Solicitors' Benevolent Association Finally, may I very specially urge the claims of our only professional charity, the Solicitors' Benevolent Association ? The calls on its resources increase yearly. The inadequacy of the assistance it can afford tends to grow in direct proportion to the increased cost of living. Help given to it is, perhaps more than anything else, the recognition of the obligation of professional solidarity. Like our own Society, the Association ignores any boundary within our country and is impartial as between creeds, only requiring that the applicant be a member, or closely related to a member, of our body. As this is the last opportunity I shall have of addressing the profession as President, may I thank you all for the assistance and support I have had from all its members and, in a very special degree, from the Vice-Presidents and my other