The Gazette 1924-27

[DECEMBER, 1925

The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

26

I would also wish to call your attention to the Solicitors' Apprentices' Debating Society, which has received the support and encouragement of the Council and of the Society, and judging from the address of the Auditor at the opening meeting, is well worthy of that support. No Presidential Address would be complete without a reference to our Secretary, Mr. W. G. Wakely, and it is hard to say how much the Council and the Solicitors' profession throughout Ireland owe to his energy, foresight and ability. There is no matter, be it small or large, coming up for considera– tion which is not tackled with courage and ability by Mr. Wakely, and his knowledge of Solicitors throughout Ireland is extra– ordinary and unrivalled. I would again wish to thank the Council, and in particular the two Vice-Presidents, for the manner in which they have acted towards me personally during my year of office, which I can truly say has been a most pleasant one. Their loyal support and business-like brevity have made our meetings most harmonious and in accordance with the best traditions handed down to us by our predecessors. The majority of the Council were strangers to me this time last year, and I feel that I have made many and, I trust, lasting friendships. I beg to move the adoption of the Report of the Council. MR. W. G. BRADLEY (Vice-President) seconded the adoption of the Report. MR. JAMES BRADY drew attention to the inconvenience caused to litigants by the District Court Civil Cases from outlying districts of the County Dublin being heard in the City of Dublin. He said it was a great hardship and expense on litigants to have to travel so far to have their cases disposed of. The Report of the Council was adopted, and Mr. Bradley (Vice-President) having taken the chair, MR. A. D. ORR moved, and MR. P. J. BRADY seconded a hearty vote of thanks to the President, which was passed with acclamation. The President returned thanks.

Solicitors. As a result of the representation of the Council, and after considerable correspondence, the Minister for Local Government moved an amendment which extended the definition, Pensionable Officers, so as to include any person duly appointed standing Solicitor of a local body before the Act of 1919. When the Bill was before the Senate the amendment was carried in Com– mittee'by a small majority to omit the provision inserted by the Dail which pro– tected the rights of the Solicitors to local bodies. The Council again communicated with the Minister, and as a result the clause was again inserted and subsequently accepted by the Senate. In reference to the publication of Statutes. The Council has been constantly urging upon the Minister of Justice that these Statutes should be printed in uniform size, and as a result in the month of September the volume for 1923 was issued, and it contained 1402 pages. In reference to actions compromised as a result of discussion taking place between Judges and Counsel in the absence of Solicitors, the Council passed a resolution which you will find in the Report, and which we trust will have the effect of putting a stop to this very objectionable practice. The Council very much regret the retire– ment of Sir John O'Connell, LL.D., who had filled the position of Vice-President of the Society, and whose eloquent tongue and clear brain were always at the service of the Society, and whom we shall not readily forget, and who has generously intimated his desire to present the Society with a new Presidential Chair. We have now in the Library 2017 volumes, and are increasing same as occasion offers by the purchase of the latest Law Books. In connection with this I would like to acknow– ledge a gift we have just received from Mrs. MacCarthy Mahony of a large number of Law Books from the Library of the late Lord Justice Ronan. We have again to thank the President of the Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Surgeons for their kindness in allowing us to conduct our examinations in their halls, and also for the use of their hall for Dinners of the Council.