The Gazette 1967/71

days he was an Examiner and served the Society faith^ fully for many years. Mr. William Dillon Leetch, a former member of the Council, was a stunch supporter of the Solicitors' Benevolent Association and a most valued Provincial Director of the Association. To the relatives and friends of these and all our late colleagues, we extend our deepest sympathy. FINANCE The Accounts and Balance Sheet have been circu lated and the struggle to match income with unavoidable increasing expenditure and rising costs with unavoidable on with a measure of success. The increased membership contribution, the photocopying service, the Company Incorporation Service and the fact that we no longer must contribute £500 per annum to the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting all played an important part in this. Mr. Healy, who joined the staff during the year as assistant to the Secretary has kept the Portfolio under constant review, and his knowledge and attention in this regard has proved most valuable. He has also recast the book-keeping system and proved a great help to our Secretary. I do not consider that any item warrants any special comment from me. THE REPORT The Report is lengthy, embracing as it does a wide field of varying activities and I commend it to those who may not yet have read it. It illustrates the extent of the ever increasing volume of work which receives attention by the honorary members of the Council and its various committees, ably assisted by a competent and courteous staff. Some of the adverse criticism occa sionally made may well come from members, who have not studied their current Report. It is, therefore, not my intention to deal at great length with the contents of the Report, but to confine my remarks to some items as I wish to avail of this opportunity to speak about certain other matters and I do not wish to detain you too long. EDUCATION The amendments to part 4 of the Solicitors' Act 1954 in particular the suggested new section for section 24 have since June last been submtted to the Department of Justice, and I understand that the Department has referred the amendments to the Department of Education, and the Higher Edocation Authority. I am very glad to have learned from the Minister for Justice when he spoke recently to the Society of Young Solicitors that he is most anxious to have progress made, and is in general agreement with the suggestions for improvement. I am personally sorry that I was unable to see the amending Act passed before the end of my term of office, but I would like to assure Masters, Parents and Students alike that the Council and in partcular he Court of Examiners will continue to press forward with the reforms. SERVICE FOR MEMBERS The field of services provided by the Society for its members continues to grow steadily. It is hoped in the near future to publish a booklet on Social Welfare legislaton by one of the members of the Council to add to these publications already available. Arrangements have been made whereby copies of Judgments will be available to the members of the Society at the Central Office of the High Court and our Librarian will publish precis of Judgments in our Gazette. There is a large number of precedents and reminder forms, which would 67

1 Eunan McCarron 551; 2 Patrick Noonan 538; 3 John Carrigan 517; 4 Gerald Hickey 508; 5 Patrick C. Moore 508; 6 Bruce St. J. Blake 507; 7 William A. Osborne 488; 8 John Maher 487; 9 Joseph L. Dundon 485; 10 Desmond J. Collins 483; 11 Ralph J. Walker 478; 12 Francis J. Lani- gan 476; 13 Robert McD. Taylor 476; 14 William M. Cahir 470; 15 Brendan A. McGrath 466; 16 James W. Donovan 466; 17 Augustus Cullen 465; 18 Thomas Jackson Jnr. 458; 19 John J. Nash 457; 20 Peter E. O'Connell 450; 21 Mrs- Moya Quinlan 449; 22 Thomas J. Fitzpatrick 446; 23 Walter Beatty 445; 24 James R. C. Green 438; 25 Peter D. M. Prentice 438; 26 Norman T. J. Spendlove 425; 27 George A. Nolan 422; 28 Thomas V. O'Connor 415^29 Gerald Y. Goldberg 406; 30 Desmond Moran 405; 31 Patrick F. O'Donnell 391. The foregoing candidates were returned as elected as ordinary members of the Council for 1969-70. The following candidates also received the number of votes placed after their names:— 32 David R. Pigott 382; 33 William B. Alien 373. 5. On the motion of Mr. John Carrigan, seconded by Mr. Desmond J. Collins the audited accounts and balance sheet for the year ended 30th April 1969 circulated with the agenda were adopted. The President signed the accounts. 6. On the motion of Mr. Peter D. M. Prentice seconded by Mr. John Maher Messrs. Cooper Brothers & Co. were appointed auditors to the Society. 7. The President proposed the adoption of the Report of the Council for the year 1968-69. The motion was seconded by Mr. Peter O'Connell. The President, in reviewing the work of the Council for the past year, then said:— Ladies and Gentlemen. According to precedent as your President I move the adoption of the Report of the Council for the year 1968-69. At the outset I must record with sincere regret the loss to our profession through death during the year of 12 members. Many of these members were well known and shed lustre on the profession and we are all the poorer for their loss. I feel I must however be forgiven if I single out for particular mention Mr. Daniel J. O'Connor, a serving member of the Council this year and Chairman of the Court of Examiners. In his earlier