The Gazette 1913-14

The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

DECEMBER, 1913]

61

MR. LLOYD-BLOOD said that before he left the Council he introduced this subject for consideration, ard met with a very hearty reception, and he hoped it would continue to receive attention. He knew that there was a very strong feeling amongst the members of the Bar in favour of shortening the Long Vacation (hear, hear). He never heard of the circular to which Mr. Brady had referred. MR. HENRY SHANNON said he desired to congratulate Mr. Cussen and the other new members of the Council, and he wished them every success in the coming year. Twelve months ago he stood in the position of Mr. Cussen. He was sent up as a representative from Tipperary, and he was elected on the Council. He attended the meetings of the Council as far as he could during the past twelve months, and from all he could see country interests came before any other interests. The Council always gave every consideration to anything that concerned the welfare of country practitioners (hear, hear). He was agreeably surprised to find that, and he also gradually learned to appreciate the many difficulties the Council had to contend with—difficulties which an ordinary member of the profession could not possibly realise. He thought it was a poor compliment to pay to country practitioners to say that they should be cut down to a subscription of 10s., or to say that they would not be able to afford the full subscription. It was not sufficient to support the County Bar and Sessional Associations. They must also support this Society and give it the support to which it was entitled. THE PRESIDENT said that before putting the motion he would like to correct Mr. Brady in one particular, that was with reference to their exertions in promoting the County Courts Bill. It was on the 29th May they gave up all hope of getting anything done in the House of Commons, in consequence of the statement made by Mr. Russell for the Chief Secretary. They acted promptly, and in June applied for a con ference with the County Court Judges. To bring about such a conference they had to apply to the Lord Chancellor. They were not responsible for any delay. First the June Sessions came, then Vacation, and then Michaelmas Sessions. The conference took

members of a former outgoing Council had done the very thing that was objected to by Sir George Roche. The statement was challenged by Sir George Roche and Sir Augustine Baker. THE PRESIDENT said that if Mr. Brady had no evidence on the subject he should not make such a statement. He (the President) never heard of such' a circular. MR. BRADY, proceeding, said the only reason he referred to the matter was to show that after all there was not very much in this question of sending out circulars. It was a matter of taste. He thought every member should pay at least £1 per annum to the Society. As regarded the report of the Statutory Committee, he thought it redounded to the honour and credit of the solicitors' profession of Ireland that the vast majority of the com plaints that had been made against solicitors turned out to be bogus. MR. R. A. MACNAMARA said he thought the country solicitors were very well represented on the Council. The speaker, dealing with the new rule with reference to sittings and vacations, said that under that rule the dates of the commencement and termination of the sittings in 1914 would be as follows :—Hilary, llth January to 2nd April ; Easter, 16th April to 20th May; Trinity, 3rd June to 31st July ; and Michael mas, from 25th October to 21st December. The Report did not mention that the Council had also endeavoured to have the Long Vacation shortened and brought into con formity with the system in England. For some reason or another they were not able to carry that through, but he hoped the new Council would take up the question. This was a question in which the public should assist them, as it was really of more im portance to the client than the solicitor to have the Long Vacation shortened. Very often cases were hampered and delayed by the Long Vacation (hear, hear). MR. CRAIG concurred with Mr. Mac- .namara as regards the suggestion with respect to the shortening of the Long Vacation. He suggested that the Assizes might go out at the end instead of at the beginning of the Long Vacation, as an arrangement which might meet the case to a large extent.