The Gazette 1921-25

•35

Thte Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

, 1921]

I have also to record the death of other members :— Mr. John Kelso Reid, of Londonderry. Mr. George Wheeler, of Dublin. Mr. John Wilson, of Longford. Mr. Daniel Moon of Londonderry. Mr. Robert Dickie, of Dundalk. Mr. Patrick Kent, of Waterford. Mr. Florence McCarthy, of Cork. Mr. David Higgins, of Clonmel. Mr. George Hoey, of Tullamore. Mr. Mathew Tobias, for a long time Prosecuting Solicitor to the Dublin Metropolitan Police, and a fimiliar figure in the Dublin Police Courts up to a few years ago. Mr. William Venables, of Cookstown, and Mr. Francis Kennedy of Wicklow, who was a popular figure in sporting and athletic circles. In regard to appointments, Mr. Barry Browne, a son of our old colleague Mr. Stephen Browne of Naas, has been appointed to be Clerk of the Crown and Peace for the County of Kildare in the place of Mr. White- side Dane, D.L. (retired), and Mr. C. Blair White, son of my immediate predecessor in office, has been appointed Crown Solicitor for County Kildare. There have been high judicial changes, and in official circles at the Courts. We send our greetings to Lord Glenavy, and are assured that he will always maintain the same feelings of goodwill towards us as a profession which marked his period of judicial office, and more especially while he was Lord Chancellor. We would, however, like to see such abilities as his recognised by the State as a live national asset and properly utilized. An Irishman of his gifts and tolerant sympathies must not be allowed to drift into a life of leisure but continue to identify himself with the interests of the community with which he has been so long identified, and we hope he will not hesitate to embrace the opportunities that may be offered of enabling him to take an important part in public and business activities of our City and County. I have already on a public occasion on behalf of the Solicitors greeted his successor, Sir John Ross, as Lord Chancellor. For many years the Solicitors' profession have the county of

The conference which has since opened, probably the most unique and the most criticised of its kind in our history, we in common with the rest of the community are watching with much 'concern and anxiety, and I am sure I voice 'the sentiments of the profession I "represent in expressing the most earnest hope that every national blessing and welfare may result therefrom. While 1 refrain from colouring my discourse with any direct political references, I do most earnestly plead that not only in the present juncture when everything should remain in stain quo, but that more particularly when under our re-organised national affairs we make a fresh start entrusted with control of our own affairs, the importance to the public of preserving the integrity, status, and qualifications of the legal professions who have been for centuries labouring amongst us may be fully realised, and that a pro fession by virtue of whose work, regardless of creed, politics and class, the property and rights of families and individuals throughout the country have been protected, settled and adjusted, may be fully recognised and main tained, as an essential to the fabric and stability of any civilised community. In fairness to those gentlemen who have expended time and money and passed high educational tests to become members of the legal profession, nothing should be done to injure the prestige of their position or to interfere with or discount the dignity of their work. Whatever be the eventual form of Govern ment or constituted authority in this country, or the mode of electing representatives, the Solicitors may be depended upon to assist and loyally support it in every way as a section of the community who are wedded to the country and concerned in its prosperity and in the maintainance of its legally con stituted institutions. Since last Meeting I have to record with much regret the death of many members, amongst others Mr. Alexander Chisholm Cameron, a Solicitor who in his time accom plished an enormous amount of work, and who, in connection with our legal Charity the Solicitors' Benevolent Association, was a most generous supporter, his generosity has been testified to at the Meetings of that Society.