The Gazette 1949-1952

increases in our fees do not meet the realistic,

approach which we are entitled to expect. On the

other hand the Department o f Finance some years

ago saw no anomaly in increasing the stamp duties

by 400 per cent, and the office fees payable to the

Land Registry in some cases up to 500 per cent,

at a time when pressure is being brought on solicitors

to Local Bodies to reduce their charges.

Every effort is made by the profession as a whole

and the Society, in particular, to maintain the

standards o f trust, confidence and dignity which

are normally associated with and reposed in the

solicitors’ profession.

Speaking in broad terms

no other profession in this country is the recipient

of so much trust. The record o f the profession

for many years past shows that confidence is very

rarely misplaced. In my view it is most undesirable

that the present unsatisfactory position o f solicitors’

remuneration must necessarily have the effect of

gravely interfering with the standard o f living of

the members o f the profession.

A prosperous

and independent profession is a very definite

safeguard o f the public interest.

ducation

The general standard o f education in Ireland

appears to me to be on the decline. This is reflected

in the quality of the applicants for admission to

the profession and to our office staffs. This short

coming is not peculiar to our profession and,

naturally, is a cau se o f grave concern to those look

ing to the future o f the country and the profession.

I have referred to a number o f points o f immediate

interest to the profession as a whole. Many other

points may have occupied the attention o f your

Council since the last General Meeting o f the Society.

In dealing with these many problems the members

of the Council endeavour to justify the confidence

you have reposed in them by electing them to

represent you.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to thank

you for your attendance and Mr. Gaffney for his

kindness in deputising for me.”

The meeting then considered the special business

mentioned in the agenda, namely, the appointment

of five members to the Nomination Committee

for the Cultural and Electoral Panel pursuant to

the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1947,

section' 22. The Chairman proposed the following

names for appointment to the Committee:—

Arthur Cox, Francis J. Gearty, Patrick F. O’Reilly,

James R. Quirke, John J. Sheil. There was no

other proposal and the Chairman’s proposal was

unanimously adopted.

Mr. Boyd . proposed a

vote of thanks to the Chairman for his conduct

o f the meeting which the Chairman suitably acknow

ledged.

There was no other business and the

proceedings terminated.

SEANAD ELECTION

a Special General Meeting o f the Society on

May 29th, it was decided to propose the following

members for nomination 'to the Cultural and

Educational Panel at the pending election to the

Seanad :

Patrick F. O’Reilly, Dublin,

William J. Norman, Dublin.

LECTURER! IN EQUITY AND

REAL PROPERTY

Council invite applications from solicitors for

the position o f Lecturer in Equity and Real Property.

Particulars of the terms and conditions of appoint

ment may be obtained from the Secretary o f the

Society, Solicitors’ Buildings, Four Courts, Dublin.

EXAMINATION RESULTS

Preliminary Examination

the Preliminary Examination for intending

apprentices to solicitors held on the 2nd and 3rd

days of April, the following candidates were

successful and their names are arranged in order

o f merit:—

Gordon Alan Henderson; 2. Peter J . Cyril

Coyle.

The remaining candidates are postponed.

Six candidates entered, 2 passed, 4 failed.

Final Examination

the Final Examination for apprentices to

solicitors, held on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th days o f

April, the following candidates were successful

and their names are arranged in order of merit:—•

1. Francis E. A. Taylor ; 2. Leonard A. Davies ;

3. T. Finbarr O’Reilly ; 4. Mary P. Gallagher ;

5. Edmund S. Doyle; 6. David R. P igo t; 7.

Michael Lucas ; 8. Edward R. Rogers ; 9. Comhghall

U. MacGuill; 10. Ernest J. Margetson;

11.

Desmond E. M. Matthews and Daniel A. White

(

equal

) ; 13. Eileen Mary Woulfe ; .14. Brendan

J . Wallace;

15. James P. Woods; 16. Patrick

U. Murphy ; 17. Kevin P. Loftus ; 18. Mary B. P.

O’Mahoney;

19. Patrick J. McCormack;

20.

Edward A. Fagan; 21. Daniel G. Shields; 22.

Kevin J. Callanan; 23. Thomas M. L. Coyle;

24. William E. T. flradshaw.