The Gazette 1936-40

[DECEMBER, 1938

The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland

27

the most anxious thought became more apparent, as upon the ultimate result of the deliberations of the Council would depend the future of the profession. The Council will have to continue this most patient and careful attention to the prepara tion of their ultimate decisions. In this connection they fortunately have the ex perience of recent legislation in England and Northern Ireland on similar matters to help, them- the Report that the Council, in the month of June, had knowledge that there was an idea of abolishing the Local Registration of Titles Offices. This knowledge reached the Council quite unexpectedly. Fortunately a large meeting of the Council was held immediately after the knowledge was obtained, and notwithstanding the shortness of the notice the Council was able to give the matter a full consideration. The Council was unani mous that the proposal was wholly undesir able, and that nothing should be done to abolish the Local Registries, as the profession had been accustomed to them since the passing of the Act of 1891. When the Local Registration Act of 1891 was passed, opinions in the profession varied. Some thought it would have an •injurious effect on the profession generally; others thought that something in the nature of the Act was essential having regard to Land purchase. Experience has taught that the Local Registration was not before its time, and the extension of Land purchase has been such that it is now a vital necessity. A few years will only elapse until more than nine-tenths of all the land in the country will have passed on to the Local Register, which will guarantee to the owners of lands the protection and preservation of their title deeds- En the Local Register was to be found a complete record of the title of every holding, a map of every holding, particulars of the dealings with every holding, and the various indexes and other books at the Local Offices facilitate reference and inquiry, and therewas and careful You will have noticed in

a guarantee that the evidence relating to title to lands existed in duplicate in the Central Office and in the Local Office. The maps are a special convenience. Unfortuna tely, I gather that the new Rules abolish the practice of having maps in the Local Office. I have no doubt whatever that this is a mistake and that it ought to be rectified at the earliest moment. It may be urged that the Local Offices exist in only one town in each County, but since 1891 we have motor cars and telephones, and, except in very few counties, the Local Office is central in or within easy reach of every part of each county. The Local Registration authorities have been of the essence of civility. Solicitors in the town where the Local Registration Office is situate are within easy reach by car, tele phone or otherwise, and are prepared, either themselves, or through their clerks, to obtain in the shortest space of time, the information which is in emergency required— hence the public are able to be served in the shortest space of time with the informa tion to be so obtained. To change the existing practice is certain to be a loss to the people and is certain to be a trouble to the Solicitors' profession. The Local Offices were regarded in the beginning to be essential. They were a part of the name of the Act that created them. To turn them now into what would be of no greater dignity than a backward Sub-Post Office, is not a happy thought after fifty years experience. There may be a slight saving to the State. I doubt it. There will be, certainly, expense and incon venience and risk and loss to those in whose interest the Local Registration Offices were set up. I trust they will continue, and I hope that if ever the notion of the abolition arises in the mind of some genius the public will have an opportunity of expressing its views as to their needs. You will find a reference in the Report to the Gazette of the Society. Annually for years the importance of this Gazette has been referred to. The members of the