The Gazette 1924-27

The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

25

DECEMBER, 1924]

the

in moving

There are now 876

PRESIDENT,

THE

Reports available.

adoption of the Annual Report, said : Gentlemen, before moving the adoption of the Council's Report I would like to say ho\v sorry we all were en hearing of the death of the late Mr. William Byrne, Solicitor. His bright personality endeared him to all who came into contact with him, and our sympathy goes out to his widow and young family. The Report has been in your hands for some days, and in moving its adoption I shall be brief ; I think it is a record of work done. The business entailed a good deal of hard work on your Council, who found it necessary to hold no fewer than forty-two meetings of Committees of the Council. The claim for compensation for destruction of our buildings has not yet been finally dealt with. The matter has been under the careful consideration of your Council, and it is hoped that a definite decision will be arrived at in the near future. The claim for compensation for the contents of our Society's premises has been the subject of an award which your Council consider was fair both to our Society and to the Executive, and the compensation has been paid. There are 995 practising Solicitors in the Irish Free State, and of these 677 are members of our Society. Inconvenience has been caused to our members by reason of there being no rcom at the Castle for the accommodation of Solicitors. The Council have been informed that it is hoped that the authorities will be in a position to provide a room in the very near future. There have been several meetings of the different Rule-making Authorities ; progress has been made, and, I think, if settled, as now suggested, the business of the State can be carried on with efficiency. The Council has been in communication with the Minister of Local Government since the issue of the Report, and I am pleased to say that they have received from him amendments which he intends to propose in Committee on the Local Government Bill at present before the Dail, for the purpose of safeguarding the existing rights of Solicitors to Councils'. "...-••. The Library of our Society is .growing,, and it is hoped shortly to have sets of Law

volumes. I am glad to say, as you see from our balance sheet, that our financial condition has substantially improved during the year.. The time is now beginning when young Solicitors who serve their apprenticeship in the Free State will not be entitled to practise in Northern Ireland, and those who serve their apprenticeship in Northern Ireland will not be entitled to practise in the Free State. All Solicitors sworn in prior to 1st October, 1921, have a right to practise in every part of Ireland. All who were apprentices to Solicitors in Ireland on or prior to 1st October, 1921, when admitted in the Free State, have the additional right to practise in Northern Ireland, or on admission in Northern Ireland have the additional right to practise in the Free State, but apprentices who after the 1st October, 1921, are articled to Solicitors in the Free State, on admission have only the right to practise in the Free State, and apprentices -who are articled after 1st October, 1921, to Solicitors in Northern Ireland, on admission are entitled to practise in Northern Ireland only. In conclusion, I would wish again.to tender our hearty thanks to the President and Council of the Royal College of Surgeons for their continued kindness in allowing our lectures and examinations to be held in their premises. MR. R. NESBITT KELLER (Vice- President) seconded the adoption of the Report. SIR GEORGE ROCHE expressed appre– ciation of the work done during the year by the President and Council, and hoped that the question of compensation for the Society's destroyed premises at the Four Courts would soon be settled, so that better premises than the temporary offices would be obtained. He'drew attention to the question of the imposition of double income tax, which was a serious one for members of the profession and their clients. MR. JAMES. BRADY urged that all Solicitors in the Irish Free State should become members of the Society. He drew attention to the inconvenient arrangements