The Gazette 1967/71

functions of the professions, but first things must come first, and if we are to avoid misunderstand ing, which is after all the basis of most unresolved controversy, we ought to have, at the outset, a clear picture of what a profession is and does. Whilst I have little doubt that the Professor is not himself lacking in this awareness, I have found that most of the criticism of the professions stems from failure to understand their place and function in society. For this, the professions must themselves accept much of the blame. Public relations have not heretofore been their special concern. It is important, however, that when it is contended that the assessment of contribution and reward of professional occupations should be thrown into the vortex of tensions affecting the business world, we should be clear as to what the professions do and how they do it. It is also relevant to examine the terms " productivity " and " competition ". Dealing first with the professions, I cannot, in the compass of a short article, do more than state their attributes in sharp outline. The professions, as do other organs of society, exist for the end which society serves, the promo tion of individual human welfare. Their field of operation lies mainly in the areas of health, the protection and enforcement of rights and the use and development of property. They serve individual people or groups of people—the organisation, the institution or the corporation. The function they perform is a service to others for the good of those others as the latter perceive that good—advice given is not always taken. The performance is participation in the solution of another's problem by way of advice, and, if required, by action implementing that advice. The scope of the service may be interpersonal, social or public. The resource is equipped man power. The equipment is knowledge continuously gained throughout the entire of a professional career in a department of learning or science and directed by a trained habit of mind and disciplined thought. The skill is the practice of an art, adapting theory to fact, founded on knowledge and experi ence. Professional training commences before engagement in any paid activity ; a large invest ment in the acquisition of knowledge is incurred. 123

Ltd. from passing off an hotel they are opening in Cromwell Road, S.W., in July as the plaintiff's business by the use of the name London International Hotel or any other name so nearly resembling it as to be calculated to deceive the public. Ungoed, Thomas J. held that "international" was a descriptive word in which the plaintiffs had failed to establish any secondary meaning distinctive of their business, affording them any proprietary right in the name. Park Court Hotel Ltd. v. Trans-World Hotels Ltd., 144 S.J., 166. THE PROFESSIONS IN IRELAND A reply to Professor Kaim-Caudle As I understand Professor Kaim-Caudle's article on the Professions, he contends (a) the professions must increase their efficiency in the interests of increased productivity, (b) restrictive practices designed to ensure stan dards, in particular, fixed levels of remuneration, eliminate competition and perpetuate inefficiency. The Professor comments upon professional incomes, but no proof or information is offered to suggest that the level of professional earnings in Ireland is unduly high compared with other sectors of the community. The only comparison made is between the income of salaried profes sional staff in Ireland and in the United Kingdom, and the only example quoted is that of teachers. If the scale given by the Professor for teachers in the United Kingdom is correct, it is not surprising that our scale is somewhat better. No mention is made of the income of private practitioners. But even if the Professor is correct in saying that relative salaries in local government and the civil service give the edge to the Irish public servant, this is not altogether surprising. Speaking from my own experience, I would expect it to be so. Pro fessional services rendered to a public authority, whether in Ireland or in the United Kingdom, are much the same in nature and complexity. The knowledge and skill required to deal with the respective problems will not differ essentially. What does differ is size. Thus, for similar authori- tities in Ireland and in the United Kingdom, the same kind of work will be done in Ireland by a much smaller professional work-force with each member performing a wider range of function and discharging a higher degree of responsibility. Professor Kaim-Caudle says little about the