The Gazette 1984

GAZETTE

SEPTEMBER1984

sacrosanct, but he accepted that the Society had the right to charge the Fund in respect of administration expenses. However, he thought that a 16% charge was somewhat out of line. Mr. F. Daly made the point that while the expenses might be high, the Fund had the services of high powered people in the Investigating Accountants and such people had to be paid the going rate. Mr. T.C.G. O'Mahony commended the Society for organising the Practice Advisory Service, but objected to the lack of confidentiality in the investigating of accounts in that the Investigating Accountant reported to the Compensation Fund Committee in detail. He would like to have the extent to which the Investigating Accountants reported tightly specified. Mr. A. Collins pointed out that the purpose of the Compensation Fund Committee was to protect the Compensation Fund. Solicitors generally should welcome investigations particularly as they could draw attention to minor shortcomings in the operation of solicitors' accounts. Finance Mr. T. Shaw detailed the charges proposed in respect of membership, the Compensation Fund and the Practising Certificate in the coming year. He then proposed the following Resolution regarding the membership subscription which had been amended to take account of Mr. Doyle's suggestion that a reduced subscription be provided for in the case of solicitors who were on the Roll of Solicitors for 40 years or more: 'That Bye Law 3 of the Society be revoked and that the following Bye Law be submitted: ASPECIAL MOTOR LEASING

The Annual Membership Subscription shall be: (a) Practising Members admitted to the Roll of Solicitors (i) for 3 years or upwards (ii) for less than 3 years £50 £25 £ 1 £25 (b) Practising Members admitted to the Roll of Solicitors of such sum or sums as the Society in general meeting may from time to time determine, and shall be payable in advance of 6th January each year or on acceptance as a member provided that a new member accepted and joining the Society for the first time after the 1st July in any year shall be required to pay only half the appropriate subscrip- tion to the following 5th January and such new member shall be entitled to vote at the then ensuing election for the Council provided that he shall have been a member at least the week before the date of the election.' The resolution was formally proposed by Mr. Thomas D. Shaw and seconded by Mr. Ernest J. Margetson and was adopted. Benevolent Association Speaking on the work of the Solicitors' Benevolent Association, Mr. Eunan McCarron (Chairman) said that at the close of the current year, the overdraft of the Association would stand at £20,000. This was due to the level of claims. At a subscription of £20, which had been proposed, the subscription income would be about £50,000, against payments amounting to £60,000. This posed a question for the Association as to whether it should sell its investments. Demands were increasing steadily and the monthly meetings of the Committee now take three and four hours since they deal with approximately 50 applications at each meeting. Almost every one of the applicants for assistance was on State support. Mr. McCarron hoped that members appreciated the gravity of the situation and would impress it on their colleagues. He thanked the President for his help during the year, particularly on his visits to the Bar Associations. Mr. Crivon said the report was a reflection of what was happening in the profession, and a lot of practitioners were in difficulty. Referring to the financial reports, in particular those of the Law School, he asked if the increase in expenditure was justified. Mr. Shaw pointed out that the reports as presented by the Auditors showed figures for an 8-month period in one instance and a 12-month period in the other. This gave rise to distortion. He assured Mr. Crivon that insofar as the Finance Committee was concerned, it operated the Association's financial programme on a very tight rein. Mr. P. Prentice suggested that the Benevolent Association might publish its accounts with the Society's Annual Report. This would bring the present difficult situation more clearly to the members. (iii) for first year of practice (iv) for 40 years or upwards (i) under 65 years of age (ii) over 65 years of age £25 £12

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Professional Purposes Mr. T.C.G. O'Mahony commented that he had r .ot seen

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