The Gazette 1964/67

ficult for all of us. Representations on these mat ters are being made constantly and interviews taking place with departmental heads. It is clear, however, that inadequacy of trained staff' is a main factor and that this results from two causes, namely, the inadequacy of remuneration provided by the Department of Finance and the drain away to more remunerative employment in com mercial fields. Standard Conditions of Sale and Building Contracts During the past six months standard conditions of sale relationg both to sales by private treaty and public auction have been introduced. The copyright of these is held by the Society. They have proved generally satisfactory but members views as to any desireable amendments are in vited and will be considered when printing the 1967 edition. A Committee of the Council has had under consideration a standard form of building con tract for use by the profession.I am aware that in the past advantage was taken of boom con ditions to impose restrictive conditions on pur chasers both as regards title and the normal warranties and conditions as to workmanship and materials. A standard form of building contract has now been drawn up and will shortly be available to members of the Society and is re commended for general use. I hope that pract There is one matter to which I must refer and that is to appeal to all of you to give your loyal support to the Benevolent Association. The work of this Association is far too seldom publicised. The help given to those less fortunate members of the profession, their widows and relations through the medium of the Association reflects the greatest credit upon those devoted and dedic ated members who administer its funds. The numbers of members of the Society who do not subscribe to the Benevolent Fund is far too large and I feel sure that if it is only brought to their notice the really charitable work '-that is being done they will no longer defer becoming subscribers. In this connection I would appeal to the Secretary of each Bar Association to en deavour to ensure among his members 100 per cent membership of the Benevolent Association. Bar Associations Although I have been in office only a matter of five months, already I have seen enough of the itioners will adopt it. Benevolent Association

ment further at this stage save to say that both are receiving careful consideration by Committees set up by the Council. The latter, however, seems to be rather like the Curate's egg—good in parts ! It displays, however, a trend which I have found it necessary to comment on and to criticise on a number of occasions since I became President, namely, the transfer of power away from the Courts and into the hands of permanent officials. The independence of our Judiciary and of the Courts over which they preside is something of which we are justly proud. Here let me depart from the text of my speech for a few moments to tender my most sincere apologies to the members of our Judiciary for the uncalled for attack made recently upon them by a member of the profession. Making all due al lowance for the fact that a body of students comprised the audience, the language used was so intemperate as to verge upon vulgar abuse. An individual is entitled to hold and voice his or her opinion but I would have thought that a trained lawyer would have learnt to express that opinion without being offensive to a body de barred from controversy and denied the right of reply. I feel I cannot emphasise too strongly that the views expressed were those only of the in dividual concerned and are entirely repudiated by your Council, this Society and its members. It is a matter of grave concern for every citizen that a significant feature of recent legislation is the taking away from the Courts and into the hands of officials, no matter how competent, matters affecting the material welfare and the freedom of the individual. As I have said earlier, reform of the law is to be welcomed but I do ursre o the Minister to afford at least a reasonable breathing space to enable us to assimilate the changes which have taken place and in many cases to unlearn what has been the practice and procedure of a legal lifetime. At the present time we are experiencing a rush of students seeking to embark upon legal careers. If this is to con tinue for any lenght of time it could only result in serious overcrowding in the profession with ail its resulting hardships. I do therefore want to issue a warning to those parents whose children may be contemplating taking up law that the profession offers no easy way of life and that its members are confined to the Republic in the practice of their profession. Delay in Government Departments I and my fellow members are only too well aware of those exasperating delays in various Government departments which make life so dif­