The Gazette 1930-33

DECEMBER, 1932]

The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

29

I make this appeal to those listening to me to use their influence to get all practising Solicitors to join the Society. As I said last May to the meeting, it is not unreason– able to expect that every practising Solicitor should prove his loyalty to his Profession I by being a member of its governing body. INDENTURED APPRENTICES. Eighty-five students became Indentured Apprentices during the year which ended the first day of this month. This figure corresponds practically with the figures of the previous few years. I have to thank the members of the Council for their valuable assistance and support since I was elected to the Chair, and no speech would be complete without a reference to the invaluable work of our Secretary, Mr. Wakely, which we all much appreciate. MR. T. H. R. CRAIG (Vice-President) seconded the adoption of the Report. MR. T. J. GREENE referred to the request of the Minister for Finance that Solicitors should give returns of the total cash values of all Stock Exchange securities acquired personally or for clients, or sold personally or for clients, to or from persons resident outside Saorstat Eireann, through Stock Brokers resident outside Saorstat Eireann. He said he felt that it would be a breach of confidence between Solicitor and client to give the information, and for his part he would not make any return to any Government of the kind suggested. MR. JOYCE drew attention to the large– ness of the number of those seeking admission to the Profession, and suggested that steps should be taken to lessen the number. MR. CRAIG (Vice-President), said there could be no breach of confidence in giving the returns which the Minister for Finance sought for. He drew attention to two matters dealt with in the Report relating to Circuit Court Rules, the question of the validity of judgments by default marked in the office of the County Registrar and the refusal of some County Registrars to accept the papers to lead to judgment by default when sent through the post. He expressed the hope that judicial decisions on those two questions would be obtained.

THE PRESIDENT said that the matter of the return asked for by the Minister for Finance had been carefully considered, and it had been made perfectly clear by the Minister for Industry and Commerce that it merely meant asking for assistance of Solicitors in furnishing reliable information as to Stock Exchange transactions between persons resident in this country and else– where. The Banks, and the Dublin and Cork Stock brokers had agreed to give these returns. If Solicitors acted with hostility to the Ministry they might be hit by a section in the next Finance Act, which would compel them to give such particulars. The Council thought it more diplomatic to yield to the request of the Ministry. He did not think it would harm Solicitors, and rather that it was up to them to assist the Ministry in the compilation of statistics useful to the country. THE PRESIDENT put the resolution adopting the report, and it was passed unanimously. The Chair having been taken by Mr. Craig, Mr. C. S. G. Orpen moved, and Mr. J. E. MacDermott seconded a vote of thanks to the President, which was supported by Mr. Craig, and passed with acclamation. THE PRESIDENT returned thanks. THE PRESIDENT. The Council elected on 8th December Mr. William Gordon Bradley, of 11 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin, to be President of the Society for the ensuing twelve months. The newly-elected President was admitted in Michaelmas Sittings, 1906, he became a member of the Council in 1921, and was a Vice-President of the Society in 1924-25. He practises in partnership with his uncle Mr. Arthur E. Bradley, a past President of the Society. VICE-PRESIDENTS. The Council have elected Mr. J. Travers Wolfe, T.D., of Skibbereen, and Mr. Peter O'Connor of Waterford, to be Vice- Presidents of the Society for the ensuing twelve months.