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The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.
[DECEMBER, 1922
meeting—Mr. Reginald Andrews and Sir
Augustine Baker. Mr. Andrews was called
away in the prime of manhood. The Council
and the first rank of the profession had
sustained a great loss in his demise. His
friends, and he was one from boyhood, would
miss a cultured, kindly Irishman of spotless
honour and integrity.
One of the most
distinguished of the older generation passed
away in the person of Sir Augustine Baker,
who filled the position of President of the
Society in 1903. He was a Solicitor who
united with marked ability a kindly and
genial nature which endeared him to a large
circle of friends.
At the time of
their
respective deaths the Council tendered their
genuine sympathy to the relatives of Mr.
Andrews and Sir Augustine Baker. Speaking
for the Society as a whole, he desired to
express their deep regret for the loss of two
such colleagues.
The President, continuing, said that the
destruction of the Four Courts involved the
loss of their splendid premises, which were so
intimately associated for so many years with
the active pursuit of their profession.
It
was to be borne in mind that the Solicitors'
Buildings were the private property of the
Society, and held under a lease practically
for ever at a nominal rent. A claim had been
made by the Society of £300,000 in respect
of these premises, and, in common with all
other claims, the matter was still pending.
They continued
to work under great
disadvantages, not only to the profession,
but to the students and the general public.
The destruction of these premises was a loss
of an exceptional character.
Solicitors' work was intimately associated
with
the general administration of
the
country.
In fact, in a sense it could be
described as semi-official. Their work was
the medium of bringing into the coffers of
the National Exchequer, in the shape of
estate duties, stamp duties and other fees,
very large annual amounts. Therefore, the
longer the profession was hampered in the
discharge of its important duties, the longer
difficulties were placed in the way of legal
administration.
They had had more than one opportunity
of placing their position before the Govern
ment authorities.
In this connection he
should like to take the opportunity on behalf
of the Council and the profession generally,
of acknowledging the courtesy and facilities
afforded them at all times by the Government
departments concerned
in
dealing with
various
pressing matters.
Mr.
Hugh
Kennedy, the Law Officer of the Provisional
Government, had been particularly kind to
them, notwithstanding his onerous public
work.
He had been at all
times most
accessible, and had given the most patient
hearing to their various representations, and
generally had shown a desire to do every
thing in his power to promote the interests
of their profession.
A Committee of the Council had worked
with a Committee of the Bar Council with
a view to securing better accommodation for
the courts and offices than that afforded in
the King's Inns. A portion of the Upper
Castle Yard had been allocated for that
purpose, and it was hoped that early in the
New Year the courts and offices would be
transferred from Henrietta Street to their
new quarters.
As they were aware, the Government con
templated setting up, at an early date, a
Committee which was to consider the whole
judiciary system. The importance to their
profession of such a tribunal could not be
over-estimated.
Accordingly,
the Council
had set up a number of Sub-Committees,
charged with the consideration of questions
affecting
the
several branches of
the
High Court,
and
the
County
Court,
with a view to being
in a position at
the proper time to offer evidence to the
Committee.
Their Secretary was in com
munication with various
Sessions Bars
throughout the Free State inviting them to
send him their suggestions as to legal reform.
He had already received numerous replies to
his invitations, and he wanted to make it
perfectly clear that the Council were most
anxious to obtain suggestions of this kind
from practitioners throughout the Free State,
and it should be remembered that in this
matter the Council was acting on behalf of
the whole profession.
The changes recommended by this Com
mittee might involve the entire profession,
and in many respects the interests of both
country Solicitors and Dublin Solicitors