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would appeal to these areas to examine the position
and endeavour to have Bar Associations founded.
The Council have noted the prevalent tendency
to underpay solicitors employed as Civil Servants
in Legal Departments of the State. The salaries of
the assistant solicitors in most of the Government
Departments, particularly those of the most junior
solicitors, compare unfavourably with the salaries
and conditions o f Civil Servants in the administra
tive grades, and also with the salaries o f other pro
fessional Civil Servants. It is difficult to under
stand why this should be so. Solicitors in the Service
are called upon to discharge highly-skilled and very
responsible duties, and they are entitled to be paid
in accordance with the standard of work which is
expected of them. Some years ago representations
were made by the Council to the then Minister for
Finance on the subject. It was impossible to do
anything about the matter during the Emergency,
but now that things have changed, the long-standing
grievances of these solicitors should be redressed.
The Council propose at an early date to make a
strong case to the Minister for Finance with pro
posals for improving the conditions of service of
these members o f the profession.
The scheme for the simplification of the Discharge
of Equities has now been completed, and a copy
has been very kindly sent by the Registrar of Titles
to every member of the profession. The new scheme
should be found very easy in practice, and should
lead to equities being discharged more promptly
and with less trouble. The Society much appreciates
the action o f the Registrar of Titles, and the Council
have already conveyed their thanks to him.
Members will have seen the answer of the Minister
for Justice in reply to a question in the Dail as to
delays in the Land Registry. Provision is now being
made for additional staff, and the Minister hopes
that the position will improve this year. This is a
matter o f great urgency, having regard to the
importance of the work involved and the great
increase in the number o f dealings, particularly
under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act. It
is hoped that when the delays have been overcome,
suitable arrangements will be made with an eye to
future requirements, and that the time-lag mentioned
by the Minister will be obviated. Certainly the fees
are high enough to ensure a better service. In view
o f the great growth in the work, additional premises
would appear to be required, and it is to be hoped
that the Minister will keep this in mind.
The matter of assignments in murder cases has
now been brought to a conclusion, and details of
the new arrangements, fees and allowances were
published in the June issue of the
G
azette
.
The
Council trust these will be found satisfactory in
practice. The profession is much indebted to the
Attorney-General for his kindly interest and
assistance.
As will be seen from the Report, applications
have been made to the Superior Court Rules Com
mittee for an amendment of the Rules to enable
Taxing Masters to allow travelling and subsistence
expenses to provincial solicitors attending in Dublin
for the trial o f actions in the High Court, and also
to have Commissioners’ Fees increased by 50 per
cent. These applications are still pending before
the Committee. An application had also been made
to the Local Registration Rules’ Committee
(a)
for
the substitution o f 335 per cent, for 25 per cent,
as the permitted increase in the pre-war scales of
costs, and (
b
) for an amendment o f Schedule of
Costs to enable a solicitor to charge under Schedule 2
for voluntary transfers where the value o f the lands
is less than
£
1,000. The first part o f the application
was granted by the Rules Committee, and is at
present awaiting the sanction o f the Minister for
Justice.
The second part was not acceded to.
Application was also made to the Circuit Court
Rules Committee for an increase in the scales of
costs prescribed in the Workmen’s Compensation
Rules, 1942. The Committee did not accede to the
application, but have sanctioned some minor
increases as set out in the Report o f the Council.
Since the Report was prepared, two new
Bills affecting the profession have been introduced
in the Dail, e.g., the Criminal Justice Bill and Land
Bill. These Bills have been fully examined by the
Council, and copies have been circulated to the
provincial members o f the Council.
I think it only right that I should draw attention
to the claims of the Solicitors’ Benevolent Associa
tion on every member o f the profession. We are all
bound to exercise a certain amount o f charity, and
the Benevolent Association has, surely, first claim
on members of the profession.
Owing to the
decrease in the value o f money, the claims o f the
Association are continually mounting.
Surely,
our primary duty is to our own profession, as the
Association is dependent on us for support. The
subscription is only
£ 1
is., and I would appeal to
those who are not now members, to join the
Association.
As my year o f office is drawing to a close, I would
like to thank the members o f the Council for the
great help and co-operation which they gave me
during the year. No one could hope to hold the
office unless he had the co-operation and support
o f the Council, and I had this in an ample degree
from the Vice-Presidents and every member of the
Council. I would also like to thank members of
the Society for their loyal support o f the Council