The Gazette 1955-58

the client by writing signed by the solicitor that the remuneration will be charged under the old system as altered by Schedule 2, S.R.G.O. 1884, as amended. If such notice is given to the client before undertaking any business the acquiring authority will be bound by it. Under the terms of pargaraph 6, S.R.G.O. 1884, (1956 Calendar and Law Directory page 497), notice must be communicated to the client and where a solicitor acts for the owner notice to the acquiring authority alone will not be sufficient. While notice of election must be given to the client it would be advisable also to send it simultaneously to the local authority or other body paying the costs. In cases in which the price paid is small it may be to the advantage of the solicitor acting for the owner or for the local authority to charge in detail for the work done rather than on the commission scale basis. CALENDAR 1956. THE Society's Calendar and Law Directory is on sale. It contains all regulations to date under the Solicitors' Act, 1954. Price io/-, post free 10/10. DELAY IN THE VALUATION OFFICE. THE President attended with representatives from the Council at a conference with the Commissioner of Valuation and officials of the Valuation Office to discuss the present unsatisfactory position and arrear of business in the office. It was agreed on both sides that the present delay in obtaining determinations as to the value of property for the purpose of Death Duties and Stamp Duties is unsatisfactory and the Commissioner informed the Society's representatives that a reorganisation plan has been drawn up and has been in operation since last August. Some time must necessarily elapse before the full effects of the re-organisation are apparent, but the Commissioner hopes that by June, 1956 the arrears would be equivalent to six weeks intake of business and that from then (a) city cases would be dealt with in six weeks to two months except during the months of January and February in each year. (b) country cases would be dealt with where inspection is required with a maximum delay of six months. The longer period in country cases is due to the fart- that valuers visit each county twice during the year and with the present staffing position it is not possible to arrange for more frequent inspections. The Commissioner will try to have cases in the Dublin suburbs dealt with as in city cases. (i) Unnecessary delay will be avoided by en-

special circumstances which would justify a reduction in the costs having regard to the statement published by the Council in the May, 1954, issue of the Society's Gazette. The Council held that the lease was a long lease not at rack rent and that members should be referred to the statement published in May, 1954 and should be informed that there would be no objection to a reasonable reduction in the lessor's costs but that this was a matter for the parties themselves. Workmen's Compensation Commission. THE Secretary reported that the Minister for Social Welfare had requested the Society to submit a memorandum and to give evidence before the commission on matters arising within its terms of reference. The matter was referred to a committee of the Council and it was decided to ask the Bar Associations to assist in preparing a memorandum of evidence. APPOINTMENT OF LAW LECTURER. COUNCIL have appointed Mr. Patrick C. Kilroy, M.A., LL.B., of 7 Suffolk Street, Dublin, as the Society's lecturer on Company Law and Executorship Law and Practice. This is a new course of lectures established under the Solicitors'Act, 1954 (Apprenticeship and Education) Regulations, 1955 and which will commence in October, 1956. EXAMINATIONS 1956. THE following are the dates of examinations in 1956. Preliminary examination March 26th and 27th and September 4th and jth. Intermediate examina tion May 22nd and 23rd and September 3rd and 4th. Final examination March 26th, 27th and 28th and September 3rd, 4th and jth. First and Second Irish examinations June 29th and 3oth and September 7th and 8th. Notice must be given not later than three weeks before the date of each examination. COSTS OF ACQUISITIONS BY THE STATE, LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND PUBLIC BODIES MEMBERS are reminded that following the rescission of Rule II, Part I, Schedule I, S.R.G.O. 1884, the costs of solicitors acting either for the owners of land acquired either compulsorily or voluntarily or the costs of solicitors acting for the acquiring authorities will be chargeable on the commission scale basis and not by detailed charges unless the solicitor before undertaking any business notifies