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JUNE, 1916]
The Gazette ol the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.
9
be ashamed to take advantage of our work,
and at the same time remain outside the
Society.
I think that if Solicitors who are
not members of the Society realised this they
would all become subscribing members.
Death of Master Culhane.
I refer with deep sorrow and regret to
the death of Master Culhane.
It is to be
regretted, not only on behalf of the Solicitors'
profession, but also on behalf of the general
public, that his place has not been filled.
When, however, " the powers that be" point
out the necessity of economy, it is difficult,
bearing
in mind
the terrible crisis
that
our country
is passing
through,
to put
up any argument against anything in the
nature of curtailment of national expendi
ture. Accordingly, economy _is necessary,
and the vacant Taxing Mastership has not
been filled. This means a saving of £1,000
a year to the Treasury, and a loss of that sum
to our profession.
Very shortly after, we
hear that a judgeship of the High Court has
fallen vacant, thus giving the Treasury a
saving of £3,500 a year. Was that post left
vacant ? Not for a day. The Treasury still
pay the £3,500—they pay it to a judge whom
we are all glad to see on the Bench ; but that
is neither here nor there—they still pay it,
and "no economy is necessary" except
where a Solicitor is concerned.
The Rebellion.
With regard to the way in which the rising
affected your Society's premises.
These
premises were in the occupation of the Sinn
Feiners for six- days. Considerable damage
was done to furniture, fittings, and windows ;
but I am glad to say the records and more
valuable portions of the Society's property
• were uninjured.
I am satisfied that the
resolution of the Council, which has been
published, represents the feeling of all Irish
Solicitors with regard to what has recently
taken place in our city. Everyone who is
interested
in Dublin,
everyone who
is
interested in the future of Ireland, must
do everything possible to have our city
buildings restored promptly, and thus have
the evidence of our shame and sorrow
obliterated.
I know what my feelings are
when I look upon the destruction that has
been wrought in Sackville Street.
I feel
ashamed and humiliated, and
I
say
to
myself, " Can such things be ? '' That, I
feel confident, is the feeling of every Irishman,
no matter what his religious or political
opinions may be.
Question of Compensation.
I am glad to hear that the Government are
disposed to assist in the rebuilding of the
houses and offices that have been destroyed,
and thus to help those loyal and unoffending
citizens who, through no fault of their own,
have lost heavily—some of them everything
they have in this world. The claims of our
brother Solicitors must not be overlooked.
Several of them have suffered irreparable
loss—loss that no money payment can ever
recoup—and, on behalf of the Council, I can
assure them of our deep sympathy, and I
tell them now that anything that we can do
to help them in their adversity, we will do, to
the utmost of our ability.
I do not intend,
at present at any rate, to further comment
on or speak about the terrible and heart
rending period through which our city has
recently passed.
I will merely say this :
we, Irishmen, all of us, love liberty ;
it is
what we are always ready and willing to
work for—aye, and to fight for—but every
Irishman's idea of "liberty" may not be
the same.
Ireland under German rule would
not be my idea of liberty.
MR. P. J. BRADY, M.P., said that in
view of the timely and appropriate references
the President had made to the occurrences in
Dublin, he might be given an opportunity of
associating himself with his
remarks
in
reference to those who had suffered damage
in these occurrences. He was glad to be able
to tell them that within a couple of hours the
Dublin City and County members would
have the privilege of receiving a deputation
of the representative Committee of Solicitors
set up to deal with these matters, of which
Mr. Rooney was the chairman.
He had
received a letter the previous evening from
Mr. Matheson, Hon. Secretary of the Com
mittee, asking him if his colleagues would be
prepared to receive a deputation, and an
appointment had been made for the purpose
at four o'clock that afternoon. On behalf of
his Parliamentary colleagues, and on his own