53 / 110
DECEMBER, 1912]
The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.
59
busy with questions under the Labourers'
Act, and the remuneration of Solicitors there
under. Correspondence has passed with and
consultations have been held with the Local
Government Board, the results of which from
the report will be seen have not been satis-
.factory. Guaranteed Stock has, through our
influence, been put upon a firmer basis.
Provision for proper remuneration for work
done by Solicitors and Receivers in filling up
the new forms under the Finance Act and
required for sales in the Land Judges Court
has been made. The troublesome question
of fee funds to be paid on appeals from
County Court has been settled, so no difficulty
will arise in the future about them. We have
again asked to be relieved from the iniquitous
tax of annual certificate duty, and received
the usual reply, that the Chancellor could not
see his way to reduce or abolish it. Well, if
the Government insist on taxing us we will
insist on the Government protecting our
profession
from
inroads by persons not
members of the profession—and this is only
fair (hear, hear). We are always ready in
proper cases
to prosecute parties at the
expense of the Society who practice illegally,
and we
request
the members
to give
immediate information of such cases to our
Secretary. We have tried to have the Easter
and Whitsuntide Vacations so fixed that the
festive occasions should not occur during
Sittings, but owing to the going out of Judges
on circuit
it
is
thought not workable.
Questions on costs by members receive prompt
attention, and as to fixing a definite fee for
filling up the Form 4 under the Finance Act,
the Council think it shou,ld be dealt with
upon a
quantum meruit
basis.
We have
received our Grant of Arms from the Ulster
King of Arms, and His Majesty has given
sanction to the wearing of the President's
badge at Court functions.
I cannot conclude
my
remarks upon
this
report without
referring to a matter which is personal to
myself.
I think I am the first of practising
Quarter Sessions Solicitors who has had the
honour of being President of this important
Society, and when I took office by the votes
of the Council, I determined, so far as in me
lay, to devote my energies to the interest of
the profession, and it is a great satisfaction to
me to-day to find at the end of my year of
office I am re-elected at the head of the poll
as member of the Council for the ensuing
year (applause). This fact shows me that my
actions and exertions have met with the
approval of my brother professional men
(applause).
MR. R. A. MACNAMARA said he had
much pleasure in seconding the adoption of
the report. He wished, in the first place, to
join with the President in expressing .the
great regret of the Council and, he was sure
of the whole profession, at the retirement of
so many eminent members of the profession
from the Council, men who were foremost in
their attention to the interests of the pro
fession and who were constant in their
attendance at meetings of the Council. The
principal matter referred to in the report was
that dealing with the County Courts. As the
report stated, they received from the Lord
Chancellor the suggestions of the County
Court Judges.
They went through these
suggestions most carefully, and were able to
agree with many of them, and had returned
them to the Lord Chancellor with their
observations. He hoped that now that the
question had been debated the Government
would take the matter in hand and would
soon bring forward a Bill dealing with the
subject. The Council took the greatest care
in examining every Bill brought in, and
scrutinised them to see if in any way the
rights and interests of the profession were
interfered with. Whenever they saw any
thing that was calculated to injuriously affect
the profession they had asked Mr. P. J.
Brady, M.P., who was kind enough to look
after their interests in the House, to do what
he could for the safeguard of the profession.
Another matter referred to in the repoit was
the discontinuing of the publishing of the
lists of Quarter Sessions' cases. There was
some difficulty owing to the cost. They had
communicated with
the various County
Councils on the matter, and had received
satisfactory replies from several.
MR. T. H. R. CRAIG said he did not rise
to move any amendment, but inasmuch as he
took part in the special meeting held last
January, he would like to say a word to
correct an impression that, he thought, had
got out erroneously amongst the Sheriffs of
Ireland about the Bill. He had received a
letter
that morning
from a well-known
Sheriff
in
Ireland,
and he might
say,