The Gazette 1967/71

OPINION POLL ON SOLICITORS Mass-Observation recently conducted an enquiry taking a representative sample of 2,000 men and women and enquired as to what contact they had had recently with solicitors and how they had fared in such dealings. While the statistics relate to England they may be of some interest to the profession. As many as one in five of those ques tioned had come into contact with a solicitor within the last twelve months. Of these contacts approximately half related in one way or another to property deals. How satisfied were those who had been to a solicitor? About two-thirds reported that they were very satisfied and another quarter that they were fairly satisfied. One in ten of those ques tioned said that they were not at all satisfied, the reasons most commonly being given for dissatis faction were that the solicitor had been slow or that he had been inefficient, the incidence of each of these complaints being about equal. Mr. Eric Plunkett, Secretary, Incorporated Law Society of Ireland, Dublin 7. Dear Mr. Plunkett, As you are probably aware, one of our main functions in this organisation is to promote the sale of Irish goods and services. I feel that it is hardly necessary to point out to you that more money is spent on consumer goods at Christmas than at any other time of the year. During the past few years, the standard of Irish- made goods suitable as Christmas gifts has risen considerably, so that it now compares very favour ably with that of equivalent imported articles. We would, therefore, request that you point out to your members and encourage them by every means in your power to ensure that as many as possible of the articles which they purchase as presents or for their own use at Christmas are of Irish manu facture. Some people may not buy Christmas presents, but almost everyone sends at least a few Christmas CORRESPONDENCE BUY IRISH National Development Association. 3 St. Stephen's Green, N., Dublin 2. 22 October 1968.

cards. Last year, approximately Christmas cards were sold in this country, of which practically 90 per cent are imported. It is estimated that each household in the country spends about 17/2 on Christmas cards each year. If even an additional 5/- of this amount were spend on Irish-made cards, it would mean the creation of almost 300 new jobs in this industry alone, apart altogether from resultant increases in employment among the various suppliers to the industry—paper manufacturerers, etc. As the members of your organisation are recog nised as leaders in their own communities, we feel that their influence could achieve a great deal in helping the promotion of Irish goods and services. I look forward to having the opportunity of meeting you at some future date. In the meantime, I wish you continued success in the excellent work which your organisation is doing. Yours sincerely, John McMahon. Director General. thirty million E. A. Plunkett, Esq., Secretary, Incorporated Law Society of Ireland, Solicitors Buildings, Four Courts, Dublin 7. Dear Mr. Plunkett, At the beginning of the year you were good enough to arrange publicity in the Gazette for our new simplified form of Inland Revenue Affi davit. I enclose a copy of the correspondence which passed between us at the time. Unfortunately, in a very large number of cases the twelve-page form A is still being used where the single-leaf form A-l would be the appropriate form. This has completely upset stock position with the result that our supply of A forms which should have lasted twelve months was exhausted in five with considerable inconvenience both to the solicitors' profession and to ourselves. I per sonally have had complaints as to the non-avail ability of these forms but, strictly, we were not to blame for that position. Apart from upsetting our stock estimates the non-user of form A-l would make impossible plans 65 ESTATE DUTY SIMPLIFIED Office of the Revenue Commissioners, Estate Duty Branch, 72-76 St. Stephen's Green S., Dublin 2. llth November 1968.