The Gazette 1967/71

by Lindhorst Homan, European Community re presentative in London, on "Recent Developments in the European Community". The lecturer spoke informally with great authority on this complicated subject, and aroused so much interest in it, that a special evening session was arranged for Dr. Homan to answer further questions. In particular, Dr. Homan stressed the four guiding principles laid down by the Spaak committee to formulate policy within the community, as follows : 1. As long as an European Economic Union would not have achieved a common policy in the social and fiscal field, the principles to be attained by a European Common Mar ket should be clearly stated. 2. The more important decisions would have to be taken unanimously by all Government members, as majority decisions would inevi tably lead to deals. 3. A majority vote however should generally be allowed in ordinary decisions of the Council of Ministers. 4. A Court of Justice of the Community was essential to construe the Treaty of Rome and supervision of political decisions should be undertaken by the European Parliament. Subsequently, Mr. R. Mustoe, Q.C. gave a very illuminating and sparkling address on "Transact ing Commercial Contracts with Europe", Mr. Mustoe had such a masterful knowledge of his subject that its intricacies seemed easy to the out sider. His main points centred around the form of contract, the choice of law which governed the contract, and the tribunal which would adjudicate upon the contract. On Saturday night, Mr. Gavan Duffy as re presenting the Irish lawyers was honoured by being invited to dine at the top table. On Sunday morn ing, there was an interesting discussion on "The purchasing of property in Europe", this was ini tiated by Mr. Trevor Brown, an English solicitor practising in Paris, who dealt fully with the pit falls facing an English purchaser wishing to buy property in France. Mr. David Davidson, an accountant, dealt with the tax problems involved, while Mr. Patrick O'Loughlin, of Messrs. Link- laters and Paines, an old Glenstal boy, gave a humorous account of how to deal with Italian vendors; other speakers dealt with the position in Germany and Spain. Altogether it was a most interesting experience and the Chairman of the Group, Mr. George Goddard, and his hard-working committee, are to be congratulated upon a most successful and en joyable venture. 58

Question : To ask the Minister for Justice why members of the public have to wait for upwards of an hour for service or to inspect folios in the general office of the Land Registry; and how soon the staff will be increased in number and the system so improved that the public will be no longer required to endure such bad services. —Richie Ryan Answer : I am satisfied that members of the public do not have to wait for upwards of an hour for service in the Public Office of the Land Registry. Even at the busiest times, the longest a member of the public has to wait for service is normally about 10 minutes. Exceptional delay of an hour or so arrises only when the document sought for inspection is attached to a pending dealing, application, etc., and takes some time to locate. Reorganisa tion of the Land Registry, which is at an ad vanced stage will include arrangements to make it considerably easier to locate a folio that is in action. INTERNATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION Tokyo Conference, 24th-28th August, 1970 The provisional programme for this conference was printed in the September-October number of the Society's Gazette. The English Law Society are arranging charter flights for their own mem bers. Enquiries are being made as to whether mem bers of this Society would be entitled to travel on these flights. The IBA secretariat are also arrang ing charter flights. Any member of this Society who proposes to attend the conference in Tokyo can obtain further particulars from the Secretary. Places in the charter flights will be allocated in strict order of application. In order to be eligible for inclusion in any of these flights a participant must become a subscribing member of the Inter national Bar Association and must pay the appro priate membership fees not later than six months before date of departure. EUROPEAN GROUP CONFERENCE A week-end Conference of the European Group of the English Law Society was held in Worcester College, Oxford, from Friday 26th September to Sunday 28th September. As Mr. Gavan Duffy was in London on business, he was invited to attend. About 60 English solicitors interested in the entry of Britain into the European Economic Com munity attended and the pleasant atmosphere of an Oxford College p rovided an ideal meeting ground for discussions. The first paper was given