33 / 200
DECEMBER, 1936]
The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.
29
hUadhaigh, 248 ;
William J. Norman, 239 ;
John R. Brennan, 238;
John J. Dunne,
223. And the following to form a supple–
mental list in case of vacancies : John J.
Dundon, 221 ;
Ivan Howe, 158 ; T. Desmond
McLoughlin, 151.
THE
PRESIDENT,
addressing
the
meeting, said :
Gentlemen Since I had the privilege of
addressing you in May last I regret to say
that we have lost many of our members by
death, and to their relatives we tender our
sincere sympathy.
I wish specially to refer
to the passing of Mr. Henry K. Toomey, of
Athy, a member of the Council from 1924
and Vice-President during the year 1928-29.
He was held in high regard by his colleagues
on the Council, where his long experience
coupled with an extensive knowledge of both
law and practice made him a most useful
member, while his unfailing courtesy and
geniality endeared him to all who knew him.
His death, like that of Mr. Philip O'Sullivan
earlier in the year, deprived the Council of
two valuable members whose death
is
sincerely mourned by their colleagues. To
the memory of both I wish to pay my personal
tribute, as I have the happiest recollections
of two men who adorned our profession and
whose friendship it was a privilege to enjoy.
The vacancies on the Council were filled by
Mr. Stapleton and Mr. Norman, who have
proved most valuable members.
The Annual Report which has been
circulated amongst the members and will be
submitted to you to-day, as is customary,
gives, such a full and detailed account of the
work of the Council for the past year that it
seems almost unnecessary for me to say much
in regard to it. There are, however, some
matters to which I may very briefly draw
your attention.
The number of our members remains
stationary, and it is rather remarkable to
find it is exactly similar to the number in the
previous year 786. When you find that
there are 1,316 Solicitors practising in the
Free State, it is at once apparent that there
are a large number who have so far failed
to join our Society. I dealt with this lack of
interest at the May meeting and do not
intend to do so again, beyond expressing the
hope that even yet those members of our
profession who hold aloof while participating
in all the benefits which this Society secures
for the profession as a whole, may come to
realise what I suggest is a very plain and
obvious duty.
The Courts of Justice Bill, 1934, has not
yet become law, but we are all glad to see
that within the last few days the Report
Stage has been taken up, and I have no
doubt that the Government, recognising the
urgency of many of the reforms which the
Bill will effect, will lose no time in putting
it on the Statute Book.
We still await the Rules of Court under the
Workmen's Compensation Act, 1934, and I
may remind you that so far back as last.
February we urged upon the Minister for
Justice the necessity for these Rules, and
were then informed that the work of drafting
them had been taken in hand by Counsel.
Truly, great bodies move slowly !
May I also
point out the delay in issuing the bound
volume of the Statutes. Those for 1933 were
not issued until July, 1935, and for the year
1934 tiU May, 1936 ;
while the volume for
1935 has not yet appeared.
I would direct attention
to
the new
regulation in the Land Registry in regard to
returnable documents
involving personal
attendance at the Central Office instead of
the hitherto existing practice whereby docu–
ments were returned by post. This change I
learned by a call on the courteous Chief
Registrar is in the interest of public economy,
but if a Solicitor wishes documents returned
as heretofore by post, he can have this done
by remitting the necessary postage. I would
also draw attention to the necessity, where
the original Land Certificate is lodged, of
stating explicitly in writing at the time of
lodgment to whom it is to be returned. The
Council has had evidence that the omission
of this precaution may give rise to serious
trouble.
As the result of correspondence between
the Attorney-General and the Council, the
procedure with regard to obtaining his fiat
and resultant dealings has been placed on a
much more satisfactory basis so far as our
profession is concerned, and I would like to
acknowledge the courtesy and consideration
of the then Attorney-General in dealing with
our representations on the matter.