The Gazette 1961 - 64

The following was among the business transacted : Standard contract and conditions of sale It was decided to send a case to counsel together with the standard forms used by the Dublin Solicitors' Bar Association with instructions to settle draft standard contracts and conditions of sale for use by members of the Society. Registered land voluntary transfer costs On a report from the committee the Council expressed the opinion that the costs of a voluntary transfer in the second schedule, part I, of the Land Registration (Solicitors' Costs) Rules, 1962, include the remuneration for adjudication of stamp duty and stamping the transfer. Commission scale fee for administration work On a report from a committee the Council stated that the gross assets for the purpose of calculating the commission scale fee include a holding (whether large or small) which may incidentally be sold in the course of the administrationwhere the commission the scale fee under the Solicitors' Remuneration General Orders is also chargeable in respect of the sale. The question whether the commission scale fee is the proper basis of charge for the administration work or whether the work should be paid under schedule II, S.R.G.O. 1960 is a matter for the solicitor having regard to all the circumstances including the amount of work carried out in the administration. The com mission charge is intended for use in normal cases where it would be approximate to the charges drawn under schedule II. Privilege—Section 103, Income Tax Act, 1918 The committee reported on an enquiry from a member who had received a letter from the Inspector of Taxes requiring particulars of all bank accounts with names of persons who were entitled to the interest on the accounts. The committee referred to the decided case, Commissioner of Inland Revenue v. West Walker (1954 New Zealand Law Reports 191) and advised member to rely on this decision. A precis of the case is printed in this issue. Patents Bill, 1963 The Parliamentary Committee reported on representations made to the Minister for Industry and Commerce on the subject of certain sections in the Bill which as introduced would enable unqualified persons to prepare deeds of assignment of patents and which would also confer a right of audience in the High Court on persons other than barristers instructed by solicitors as the result of the represen tations made, the sections were substantially modified to meet the views of the Society.

Superior Courts Rules Committee Mr. Ralph J. Walker was re-appointed as a member of the Superior Court Rules Committee. MARCH i ZTH : The President in the chair. Also present: Thomas J. Fitzpatrick, Thomas A. O'Reilly, Desmond Moran, Peter D. M. Prentice, Ralph J. Walker, Niall S. Gaffney, James R. C. Green, Dinnen B. Gilmore, Joseph P. Black, Robert McD. Taylor, Thomas H. Bacon, Peter E. O'Connell, Gerald J. Moloney, William A. Osborne, Augustus Cullen, Patrick O'Donnell, John C. O'Carroll, Daniel J. O'Connor, Thomas V. O'Connor, John J. Nash, Eunan McCarron, Francis J. Lanigan, George A. Nolan, John Carrigan, John Maher, Gerard M. Doyle, Richard Knight. Land Registration Rules Committee Mr. Francis J. Lanigan was re-appointed as a member of the committee. Circuit Court Rules Committee Mr. Eunan McCarron was re-appointed as a member of the committee. Compensation Fund Claims amounting to £2,821 os. od. were admitted for payment. Law Clerks Joint Labour Committee Mr. D. J. O'Connor reported that the committee decided to make an order for an increase of 12% on the statutory minimum wage rates in solicitors' offices following the ninth round wage increase. Solicitors' remuneration The Secretary reported that an application had been made to the Superior Courts Rules Committee and the statutory body under the Solicitors' Remuner ation Act, 1881, for an increase of 12% on solicitors' profit remuneration and applications were also being made to the Circuit and District Court Rules Committees, the Land Registration Rules Committee and the committee which regulates costs in Land Commission proceedings. The application is in respect of all charges other than the commission scale fees in conveyancing matters. COUNTY AND CITY OF LIMERICK SESSIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION At the annual general meeting of the above association held on 28th October, 1963, the following officers were elected. President: Niall S. Gaffney; Hon. Treasurer: Thomas E. O'Donnell; Hon. Secretary: James I. 88