35 / 216
December, 1940]
The Gazette of The Incorporated Law Society of Ireland
29
Meanwhile I suggest that every member
of the Society who is interested in the matter,
and that I hope means the majority of our
members, should read the draft Bill and make
up his mind as to the desirability or other–
wise of the Bill as a whole in its wider
bearings.
It is not the wish of the Council that
criticism of the Bill should be discouraged
or that free discussion should be curtailed,
but it will save a great deal of time if members
of the Society will
consider
the Bill in
advance of the proposed meeting.
I can
assure you that an immense amount of care
and labour has been expended on the draft
Bill by the Committee which was responsible
for its preparation in the first instance, and
by the Council which considered it line by
line.
The draft in its original, intermediate and
final forms is the handiwork of Mr. Wakely
and of both junior and senior Counsel of
great experience, and I think that you may
feel satisfied that the actual wording of the
draft is not likely to be improved by amend–
ment.
I therefore suggest that in examining
the Bill you might well confine yourselves for
the present, at all events, to a consideration
of its broad principles.
Before passing from the Bill I must refer
to the immense amount of work which fell
upon Mr. Wakely in its preparation.
It is a
remarkable and very happy result of Mr.
Wakely's long tenure of the office of Secretary
of the Society that he should have had the
responsibility of the Bill which became the
Act of 1898 and, after more than forty years
interval, should again be engaged on a
similar task.
I can only say that Mr. \Vakely
has given of his best in the very heavy
labour of preparing the present draft Bill.
Much of it is his own original work and the
rest
is compiled from precedents which,
thanks to his vast experience, ripe judgment
and almost uncanny memory, he knew how
to use and where to find.
I should also like
to thank Mr. Phelps, K.C. and Mr. Davy,
Barrister-at-law, formerly a member of our
own profession,
for their skill, care and
patience in settling the original draft of
the Bill, and advising the Committee and the
Council on the many points which required
elucidation and discussion and in the drafting
and re-drafting of fresh clauses and amend–
ments as from time to time became necessary.
In conclusion I would remind you that
during the coming year the Society will
celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of
its foundation.
I expect the occasion will
be marked in some suitable manner, but this
will be a matter for the consideration of my
successor in the chair and the new Council
just elected.
I hope that the Society at
large will assist in making whatever form of
recognition of the centenary may be decided
on the success which such an auspicious
occasion demands.
I beg to move the adoption of
the
Report.
Mr. Cecil G. Stapleton
(Vice-President)
seconded the resolution adopting the Report,
and Messrs. O'Reilly, O hUadhaigh and
Roger Greene having spoken, the President
replied and put the motion that the Report
be adopted, which was passed unanimously.
Mr.
Stapleton
(Vice-President),
having
taken the chair, on the motion of Mr. T. G.
Ouirke, seconded by Mr. W. S. Hayes, a
hearty vote of thanks was passed to the
President, and Mr. Stapleton having warmly
commended this resolution to the meeting
it was passed with acclamation.
The President having returned thanks the
meeting terminated.
ALL Communications connected with THE GAZETTE
(other than advertisements) should be addressed to
the Secretary of the Society, Solicitors' Buildings,
Four Courts, Dublin, N.W.8.