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tance, particularly since the House of Lords decision in
Rookes v. Barnard
(1964) AC}- It is important to realise
that "Economic Torts" arises primarily from one's rela-
tions with others : in discussing the old action
per quod
servitium amisit,
it is surprising that Kingsmill Moore
J's famous judgment in
A.-G. v. Ryan's Car Hire Ltd.
(1965) I.R. 642, is omitted amongst the numerous well-
laid-out notes. The notions of conspiracy, and induce-
ment of breach of contract as causing loss by lawful
means particularly on the part of trade unions, has
become exceptionally important, with the result that the
Courts in Ireland tend to prevent the economic chaos
that is such an unjustified common feature in Britain
today by granting injunctions against picketing; in this
connection it is surprising that
Cooper v. Millea
(1938)
I.R., which was approved by the House of Lords in
Rookes v. Barnard
should have been recently criticised
in the Supreme Court. The notion of intimidation as
causing loss by unlawful means is rightly condemned,
as a serious tort which ultimately induced the British
Government to introduce the Industrial Relations Act
1971. Finally there is a useful note on the torts of
injurious falsehood, deceit, and passing off. The author
commends for the future the decision of the New York
Supreme Appeals Court in
Morrison v. National Broad-
casting Co.
(1965). Here the plaintiff, a young univer-
sity teacher, was induced to participate as a contestant
in a television quiz by the defendant's false represen-
tation that it was not rigged, which it was; the public
discovered this, and the plaintiff lost reputation and
employment. There was no specific head of the law of
torts under which he could sue, yet the Court eventually
awarded him damages on the novel ground that it was
a "violation of strong and prevalent moral standards"
not to find for him. As an Oxford don Dr. Heydon has
produced a very learned summary of this intricate
subject; he has taken full cognisance of the Irish case of
James McMahon Ltd. v. Dunne
(1965). Strongly recom-
mended.
Woods (James W.; compiler)—District Court Hand-
book.
Obtainable from Mr. Woods, District Court
Clerk, The Courthouse, Washington Street, Cork;
£2.75.
Mr. Woods is to be congratulated upon producing a
practical volume relating to the procedure of the District
Court which will be of inestimable value to all practi-
tioners in that Court. This Handbook is most compre-
hensive, including amongst the main titles in alpha-
betical order—Affiliation Orders (including 1971 Act);
Procedure on Appeals from the District Court; Appel-
late Jurisdiction of the District Court against Section 33
of Road Traffic Act 1961 re Certificates of Competency
and against refusal to grant a lottery or a street permit
and against fire precaution notices of a sanitary auth-
ority.—Auctioneers and Houseagent Acts 1947 and 1967
—Bankers Books Evidence Act 1879—Appeal against
Refusal of Certificate under the Betting Act 1931.—
Civil Proceedings including Civil Processes and Costs :
—Criminal Jurisdiction including Summary Jurisdic-
tion—Dance Licences under the 1935 Act—Procedure
under the Enforcement of Courts Orders Acts 1926 and
1940:—Certificates for Salmon and Trout Licences
under the Fisheries' Acts:—Game Dealers' Licences
under the Game Preservation Act 1930—Gaming Certi-
ficates and Lottery Permits under the Act of 1956—
General Dealer's Licences under the 1903 Act—The
Various Licences under the Intoxicating Liquor Acts—
Certificates under the Registration of Clubs (Ireland)
Act 1904—Applicant's Declaration of Fidelity to the
Nation before Justice under Irish Nationality and Citizen-
ship Act 1956—Legal Aid Certificates—Maintenance
Orders under the Married Women (Maintenance in
case of Desertion) Act 1886 as amended—Moneylenders
Certificates under the 1933 Act—Music and Singing
Licences under Part 4 of the Public Health (Amend-
ment) Act 1890 as amended—Pawnbrokers Certificates
under the 1964 Act—Petroleum Licences under the
1871 Act—Small controlled Dwellings in Boroughs
under the Rent Restrictin Act 1960 as amended.—
Statutory Applications under the Road Traffic Acts
1961 and 1968—Remission and Exemption of District
Court Fees—and finally Vacation Periods in the District
Court as set out in the District Court Districts (Amend-
ment) Order 1970.
From thss list it will be noted that Mr. Woods has
given us a thorough and comprehensive grasp of every
aspect of District Court Practice. He is to be praised
for his immense industry, and, in order not to compli-
cate his work unduly, he has wisely refrained from
citing the relevant cases which will in any event be
found on the criminal side in Mr. Crotty's book. This
Handbook is an
absolute must
for all practitioners who
handle District Court work.
DELAYS IN THE VALUATION OFFICE
Representations were recently made on behalf of the
Society to the Commissioner of Valuation about unreas-
onable delays in the Valuation Office. In a particular
case the matter was first referred to the Valuation Office
in November 1971 and had not been dealt with by
January 1973. Intervening correspondence had pro-
duced no result. The Valuation Commissioners in reply
stated that there was considerable delay in dealing with
the matters. Regrettably delay in dealing with Revenue
Cases has been a common occurrence in that office for
some time past. This has been due to unavoidable hold-
ups in recruitment of staff both professional and clerical
and to rapid turnover of clerical staff with resultant
scarcity of persons experienced in co-ordinating docu-
mentation for these cases. The consequent arrears of
undischarged cases has of itself added to the difficulty
of identifying and associating relevant papers. The
Commissioner and his senior officials are now taking
special measures which should very soon substantially
reduce the arrears and speed the discharge of these
cases. It has been laid down as standard practice in the
office that all communications are to be acknowledged
soon after receipt especially when for one reason or
another there might be prospects of delay in issuing a
definitive reply. An instruction has issued that an
acknowledgement is to be sent to every correspondent
in the arrears range as soon as its correspondence is
given a reference number.
126