The Gazette 1958-61

herculean efforts. The volume of work done by the committees throughout the year is a tribute not only to their diligence but to their patience, having regard to the many demands I made on their time. It is evidence of their deep concern not only for our common heritage of law but also for the community in which we live. The motion for the adoption of the report was seconded by Mr. Walker. Messrs. T. Desmond McLoughlin and Desmond Moran spoke to the motion. The President replied to points raised on the report. The motion for the adoption of the report was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. Mr. John Carrigan proposed and Mr. Robert McD. Taylor seconded the adoption of the following motions on the agenda for the amendment of the bye-laws : (1) That bye-law 3 be amended by the substitution of the words " at least one week before the date of the election" for " on or before zoth day of November ". (2) That the following bye-law be substituted for bye-law 4 :— 4. The Secretary shall on or before July ist in each year send a notice to each member whose subscription is in arrear informing him of that fact and every member whose subscrip tion shall not be paid before the expiration of the time appointed for receipt of nominations under bye-law 29A shall thereupon cease to be a member. (3) That the following bye-law be substituted for bye-law 13 :— 13. Two ordinary general meetings shall be held each year on such dates as the Society in general meeting or the Council may from time to time appoint. At any ordinary general meeting any special business connected with the Society may be dealt with, provided that fourteen days' previous notice thereof in writing shall have been given to the Secretary and posted by him in the Society's premises for one week at least previous to the meeting. Notice of all such special business shall be sent by the Secretary to each member at least three days before the general meeting at which it is to be discussed. (4) That the form of the ballot paper in schedules C and D be altered by omitting the words " Members who have not paid their annual subscriptions, which become due on ist May in each year, are not entitled to vote, and their Ballot papers will be rejected unless the subscriptions be first paid ", in direction 4 in schedule C and direction 5 in Schedule D.

special Lord Chancellor's Department who can devote their time exclusively to this work. In this country it is only in a spirit of co-operation between the Government, the professors of law, the judges and practising lawyers, that there can be hope of success in efforts to restate and modernise our laws. Much depends upon the spirit with which the work is undertaken and the point of view that is consist ently maintained throughout the task. It will, however, be well worth the effort to develop our separate nationality and evolve our own ideas of social order and social justice. The Government can count on the whole-hearted co-operation of our profession in their endeavours to adapt our complic ated system of law to the needs of the times. On a personal note of diffidence I feel under an obligation to our profession to refer to one matter which seems to give justifiable cause for complaint to solicitors and has been the subject matter of publicity in the press. It is accepted in this country that all citizens have equal rights dependant only on their capacity. Political patronage is almost non existent and appointments within the gift of the Government are made exclusively on the basis of merit and suitability. The main appointments within the gift of the Government which are open to our branch of the legal profession are State Solicitor, County Registrar and District Justice. There is an uneasy feeling among solicitors generally that under all Governments since the formation of our State it is practically futile to apply for any of these appointments unless the applicant be an active political supporter of the party for the time being in power. There seems to be no justifiable reason for adopting a different principle of selection between, say, a county surveyor and a county registrar, or between the solicitor for a county council and the state solicitor for a county. There are many solicitors outstanding in their ability who have a keen sense of their social and professional obliga tions, but who take no active interest in party politics. It does seem inequitable if such solicitors cannot compete on equal terms, and are automatically overlooked for preferment because they do not take an active interest in politics. My colleagues and friends : The end of my year of office is now approaching. I can look back upon it with happy memories and deep feelings of sincere gratitude to the profession for the honour which they paid me and the confidence which they reposed in me, and to the Council for their co-operation and loyal assistance. If my year of Office has—as I sincerely hope—been fruitful of advances in our profession, much of the credit goes to our worthy secretary for his inspiration and guidance and to members of the various committees for their