The Gazette 1972

Department and what was done by officials. I want to

make it clear that I am responsible for everything that

is done by every official of my Department. I have looked

into this matter fully. I am fully aware of everything

that happened, I approve of everything that happened

and 1 take full responsibility.

The first discussion with the two officials concerned,

at which two Assistant Secretaries and a Principal Offi-

cer were involved, took place on 1st November 1971.

1 here was a written communication sent from my

apartment on 2nd November 1971 informing the

officials concerned that these changes would have to

take place not later than 22nd November, which is, in

fact, the date on which they took place. On 12th

November 1971 because of the disinclination of the

officials to discuss the matter fully witli the two Assis-

tant Secretaries and the Principal Officer, the Secretary

of the Department, at my specific request, went to see

the

two officials. He, in fact, spent three hours discussing

the matter with them explaining every aspect of the

position to them. The change over took place on the

date thev were told three weeks earlier.

Mr. T. J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan): I should like to ask

one question hut if the Minister objects I will leave it.

Is it not a fact that nothing definite was arranged on,

I think, the 9th, that the officers did not agree, that no

communiation whatever was received by them until

the place was barricaded on the 12th?

Mr. O'Malley: Th at is n,ot so. The Secretary of my

Department, who has made a careful note of the three-

hour meeting which took place on the 12th November

1971 pointed out that these changes would have to be

made not later than the 22nd and that he was extremely

anxious to discuss the mechanics of the change-over

and so on, that if the officials concerned refused to dis-

cuss the mechanics of the change-over we would he put

in the very regrettable position because of the public

interest involved and the dire necessity of having a judge

started bvt he 22nd, that the change-over must take

place then. In fact, of course, the judge eventually was

not able to be appointed until the 6th December. The

reason for that was that the contractor could not get in

until 22nd November and he took ten days to do the

necessary work.

Computers in Banks "Ease Forgeries"

The use of computers in hanks has made it more diffi-

cult to detect forgeries, a National Westminster Bank

spokesman said yesterday. He was commenting on the

('marks by Mr. Neil McElligott, the Old Street magis-

trate. Mr. McEligott said "any undesirable" could ap-

parentlv have a banking account these days. He added

that "some hanks seem to take no precautions".

He sentenced Mrs. Gloria Rosano, of Kenworthy Rd.,

Honierton, to a total of six months' jail, suspended for

three years. She had pleaded guilty to forging and

cashing five cheques from a personalised cheque hook

°wned hv her lodger.

After examining the cheques, the magistrate said the

gnatures bore no comparison with that of the account

holder. "Do you mean to say the hank paid out on these

cheques?" He was told hv a police witness there had

heen other similar cases in other hanks.

Studying signatures

The National Westminster spokesman said counter

(aff now had to familiarise themselves with customers'

gnatures by looking at the specimen cards. In pre-

°niputer days, staff worked on the ledgers before going

the counter and became familiar with everv signa-

ture.

With computer accounting, a valuable source of staff

Gaining had gone. In some cases, new staff had to go

on the counter within a matter of days.

The hanks continued to take the same precautions as

in the past, comparing signatures on cheques with those

on the specimen cards. But with thousands of cheques

being handled daily, it was possible for one or two to

he overlooked.

With personalised cheques, which have the custo-

mer's name printed on them, there was also a temp-

tation just to look at the printed name and say, "He is

all right; he has got the money."

Normal precautions

The spokesman stressed that the normal precautions

were taken when opening an account. References were

required from the prospective customer and the referees

themselves were checked "to make sure one crook is not

recommending another".

Other hanks emphasised that the majority of custo-

mers were known to the counter clerks hut because of

the volume of business a small number of forgeries

might slip through.

An added precaution was the issue of hank cards to

customers in good standing. Any person presenting a

cheque could he asked to produce a card. Losses through

forgeries were borne hv the hanks and not by the

customer.

Daily Telegraph

(4th January 1972)

Foreigners can become Solicitors in England

^he rule that only British subjects can he solicitors in

j^itain would he abolished under a Private Members'

which was given an unopposed second reading in

House of Lords on March 2nd.

The Solicitors (Amendment) Bill, sponsored by Lord

'anglry (Independent), a former president of the Law

Society, deals with other matters affecting solicitors. It

^titles all practising solicitors to administer oaths and

ke affidavits, and allows a solicitor retained to con-

duct contentious business to withdraw if the client

fuses a request for payment of a reasonable sum on

'>unt of costs.

Lord Stow Hall (Labour) said the Bill gave the Law

Society extremely drastic powers to deal with the very

occasional delinquent solicitor. "These powers seem

extremely severe, and I think the public will he grateful

to the profession for being ready to take upon itself

thee powers to protect members of the public."

Lord Hailsham, the Lord Chancellor, said the meas-

ures in the Bill had his active support. "I would like to

say that this Bill is very badly needed. A disservice

would he done to the administration of law in this

countrv if for any reason it was held up."

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