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ing to keep one abreast of changing law and
complexities thereof. Long may this Society
continue to prosper.
Tlic Solicitors' Benevolent Association
It would be remiss of me in my office of Secretary
of the Solicitors' Benevolent Association were I
to allow this opportunity to pass without
commending it to you and through you to the
entire profession for support and to request that
particularly through your Bar Associations you
might seek out those in your areas who may not at
present be members. I can assure you although we
appear to be moving slowly towards a welfare
state, there is still extreme poverty, which may not
always be apparent, and if persons deserving of
support are known to any of you 1 would urge
you to communicate with me on their behalf as
sometimes there is a natural shyness and
reluctance on the part of such persons who have
known better days.
New Legislation
I would like to draw particular attention to the
fact that the Council is and always has been most
anxious to assist the Government of the day in
considering contemplated legislation. We are able
lo provide experts in almost every field who also
have the important adjunct of both administrative
i'.nd practical experience. With the numerous
enactments passed annually, it is difficult to be
continually on the alert and to devote sufficient
time to a perusal of every enactment and
amendment. I would appeal therefore to the
Government to note our good will and our hope
that our voluntary services would be availed of,
preferably before Bills are introduced. Once a Bill
has been introduced the matter automatically
become a political issue and our intervention at
that stage can be a source of embarrassment to us
as we have no political axe to grind, and are only
actuated by the highest motives. If it should com
mend itself to the Government to establish a con
sultative group we would be happy to join with
any other organisations and play our full part. 1
personally feel that time and public money might
be saved in the long run.
Criminal Legal Aid Scheme
The Council and the members of the Legal Aid
Panel are far from satisfied with the situation
which exists under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme.
With some reluctance the Council requested the
profession to implement the scheme at what were
patently inadequate rates on a temporary basis.
Two years was mentioned and have since passed.
It is quite plain that because of the inadequacy of
the fees this scheme will simply die if our
representations for reasonable remuneration are
not fairly and swiftly met.
Delay in Government Departments
I need hardly say that one of the more mundane
occupations of our Secretary is from time to time
to press certain Government Departments to speed
up the processing of work. Most of the com
plaints concern the Land Registry, the Registry of
Deeds, the Estate Duty Office,, the Accountants
Office and the Probate Office.
Although the Law's delays are well known -it
should be said again and stressed in no uncertain
manner, in fairness to our profession that we very
frequently are blamed for matters outside our
control.
The most serious causes of complaint arise in
connection with the Land Registry. The time
taken to perform the more important operations
is: (a) Opening a Freehold Folio, minimum one
year, (b) Transfer, two to four months, (c) Trans
fer involving Sub-Division of Folio, 9 to 12
months, (d) Procuring copy map, 3 to 6 months,
(e) Procuring Certified copy Folio, 1
to 2 months.
It is sad that this should be a source of trouble
because it would remove a common cause of
complaint by the public of unnecessary compli
cations and delays in conveyancing were the
simpler procedure of the Land Registry, which
the Society have always supported, to function
properly. Although we would be remunerated on
a lower scale where registered property is con
cerned 1 am satisfied that if the simpler procedure
of the Land Registry were only to function
smoothly and swiftly the turnover of business
would be increased with beneficial effect to our
profession. It is therefore again pointed out that
we have never opposed this simpler scheme of
conveyancing.
We are, however, distressed to note the high
cost of administering the Land Registry for which
of course the public has to pay and which cost,
like that of running our own offices, apparently
must increase still more. One of the main causes
of delay is the fact that expert staff are required
and are difficult to obtain yet the number of