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27
The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland
[DECEMBER, 1938
the most anxious
and careful
thought
became more apparent, as upon the ultimate
result of the deliberations of the Council
would depend the future of the profession.
The Council will have to continue this most
patient and careful attention to the prepara
tion of their ultimate decisions.
In this
connection
they fortunately have the ex
perience of recent legislation in England and
Northern Ireland on similar matters
to
help, them-
You will have noticed
in
the Report
that the Council, in the month of June,
had knowledge that there was an idea of
abolishing the Local Registration of Titles
Offices. This knowledge reached the Council
quite unexpectedly. Fortunately a
large
meeting of the Council was held immediately
after
the knowledge was obtained, and
notwithstanding the shortness of the notice
the Council was able to give the matter a
full consideration. The Council was unani
mous that the proposal was wholly undesir
able, and that nothing should be done to
abolish the Local Registries, as the profession
had been accustomed to them since
the
passing of the Act of 1891.
When the Local Registration Act of 1891
was passed, opinions in the profession varied.
Some thought it would have an •injurious
effect on the profession generally; others
thought that something in the nature of the
Act was essential having regard to Land
purchase. Experience has taught that the
Local Registration was not before its time,
and the extension of Land purchase has been
such that it is now a vital necessity. A few
years will only elapse until more
than
nine-tenths of all the land in the country
will have passed on to the Local Register,
which will guarantee to the owners of lands
the protection and preservation of their
title deeds-
En the Local Register was to be found a
complete record of the title of every holding, a
map of every holding, particulars of the
dealings with every holding, and the various
indexes and other books at the Local Offices
facilitate reference and inquiry, and therewas
a guarantee that the evidence relating to
title to lands existed in duplicate in the
Central Office and in the Local Office. The
maps are a special convenience. Unfortuna
tely, I gather that the new Rules abolish
the practice of having maps in the Local
Office.
I have no doubt whatever that
this is a mistake and that it ought to be
rectified at the earliest moment.
It may be urged that the Local Offices
exist in only one town in each County, but
since 1891 we have motor cars and telephones,
and, except in very few counties, the Local
Office is central in or within easy reach of
every part of each county. The Local
Registration authorities have been of the
essence of civility. Solicitors in the town
where
the Local Registration Office
is
situate are within easy reach by car, tele
phone or otherwise,
and are prepared,
either themselves, or through their clerks,
to obtain in the shortest space of time, the
information which is in emergency required—
hence the public are able to be served in
the shortest space of time with the informa
tion to be so obtained. To change
the
existing practice is certain to be a loss to
the people and is certain to be a trouble to
the Solicitors' profession.
The Local Offices were regarded in the
beginning
to be essential. They were a
part of the name of the Act that created
them. To turn them now into what would
be of no greater dignity than a backward
Sub-Post Office,
is not a happy thought
after fifty years experience.
There may
be a slight saving to the State.
I doubt it.
There will be, certainly, expense and incon
venience and risk and loss to those in whose
interest the Local Registration Offices were
set up.
I trust they will continue, and I
hope that if ever the notion of the abolition
arises in the mind of some genius the public
will have an opportunity of expressing
its views as to their needs.
You will find a reference in the Report to
the Gazette of the Society. Annually for
years the importance of this Gazette has
been
referred
to. The members of
the