The Gazette 1936-40

28

DECEMBER, 1938] The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland

the country, calling attention to various grievances they thought the profession had cause to complain of. Members of the profession frequently submitted their dif ferences and accepted the solution the Council provided. It is possible that many members of the profession attribute to the Council powers they do not possess, but the Council is always ready and willing to hear of any matter or thing which is in any way an encroachment on the rights of the profession, or to settle any matters of practice or differences which arise between members. Members of the profession may rely upon it that the Council, ever jealous of the rights and privileges of the profession, will never lose an opportunity in the assertion and protection of such rights. I may give you an instance or two—The Council had a complaint as to what might happen at the sittings of the High Court on Circuit. The Council sent a deputation to the Judges, and they had an assurance that everything would be done to facilitate the smooth working of these Courts. Another matter was a complaint as to the working of the Estate Duty Branch, Complaints were made that unnecessary delays were taking place, and I was sent there on a deputation from the Council to inquire into the complaint as to the delays and a complaint as to a letter which had issued from that office tending to reflect upon a member of the profession. I asked for particulars of one special complaint, in reference to which before I reached the office I had an intimation that the cause had been removed. I went to the office and had an interview with the Controller and with his chief helpers. I was informed that for a time there might have been cause for delay, but that it was due to special circumstances, and now there could not be much cause for delay; but that whenever a case arose in which, there was special urgency, on such being represented, care would be taken to facilitate the members of the profession interested. As to the other, complaint, I was- satisfied"

Society have been appealed to to take an interest and to provide material for the Gazette which would be of importance or service to the profession or to the public. With the exception of two months of the year it appears every month. Every effort is made by the Committee in charge of it to make it as useful to the profession as possible. If the members of the Society, as a whole, would take an interest in it and supply information of interest or importance to the profession, the Committee would be only too glad to take advantage of their help. I would like to call attention to item 19 of the Report headed " Award of Scholar ships, 1938." It will be noticed there that in this year the Council, acting on the report from the Court of Examiners, have felt unable to make an award of the Find- later Scholarship. It was with much regret that, both the Court of Examiners and your Council came to this decision. It is only necessary to refer to the Findlater Scholarship to know what it means, and what also it means when it is impossible in any particular year to make the award. In short language, it means that the standard attained at the Final Examination has not reached what it ought to reach to merit that award. The paragraph in the Report dealing with the Solicitors' Apprentices Debating Society indicates that the Council has been helping the Debating Society. The Council appreciates the value of that Society, and urges upon Solicitors that they should see that their apprentices became members of the Society. This year the Inaugural meet ing was a delight to those who had the fortune to be present; and I would like, as President of the Debating Society, to express my obligation to the Attorney General and the other distinguished gentlemen who took part in the debate. It ought to be a matter of gratification to Solicitors' apprentices to know that in their efforts to qualify for the profession they have the support of the leaders of the Bar and Solicitors' profession. During the year the Council had appeals from members of the profession all over