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34
The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.
[DECEMBER,
1! 1J
Irish soldiers, defeated the flower of the
German Army, the most powerful and fully-
equipped army that ever took the field, at
the ever-memorable battle of Mons, and thus
averted the greatest disaster in history, was
an Irishman, Lord French of Ypres, the
present Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; and
Admiral Beatty, the Commander of the High
Seas Fleet which saved the Empire was also an
Irishman. It also was a source of gratification
to them all as Solicitors that the Prime
Minister, the head of the civil Government
which was responsible for the conduct of the
war, and who was, consequently, entitled to
no small share in the glory of the victory of
the Allies, although not an Irishman, was a
member of their profession. Their joy in this
great victory must be tempered with sorrow
when they thought of those gallant sons of
our country, our Empire, and our Allies, who
had fallen in the war, sacrificing their lives,
gloriously, no doubt, but leaving behind
millions of broken-hearted parents, wives, and
lovers.
In the Annual Report it was stated
that a very large number of solicitors and
apprentices, regardless of their own welfare,
joined the Colours, and, at considerable
sacrifice, gallantly took their part in the war.
He was sure they would agree with him
that those members of the profession who
had joined the Army or Navy would have a
hearty reception on their return, and that
the members of the Society would endorse
the action of the Council in giving to those
apprentices who had risked their lives every
facility to enable them to become honourable
and honoured members of the profession.
Steps should be taken to perpetuate in a
suitable manner
the memory
of
those
members of their profession and apprentices
who had laid down their lives for their King
and country. He commended this to the
consideration of the incoming Council. He
regretted to say that during the year eight
solicitors and apprentices who had joined the
Army sacrificed their lives. They were all
proud of the seven members of their profes
sion, and apprentices, who had gained
distinctions for gallantry during the year.
At their last meeting he had the pleasure
of referring to the distinction gained by
Mr. James O'Connor, formerly a Solicitor,
who subsequently became a member of the
Bar, and was elevated to the Judicial Bench.
Since then Mr. Justice O'Connor has received
the further distinction of being promoted to
the high position of Lord Justice of Appeal.
He felt sure they would all wish to join with
him in congratulating their former colleague
upon having attained
the high
judicial
position which he now adorned.
Under the recent Representation of the
People Act the duties formerly performed by
revising barristers have devolved upon the
Clerks of the Crown and Peace, all of whom
were Solicitors before they received their
appointments.
He had
some personal
experience in the conduct of the Revision
Courts, and he could say without hesitation
that the Clerks of the Crown and Peace, at
the revision which took place this year,
discharged their highly important judicial
duties in a manner which entitled them to
the greatest credit and the thanks of the
profession and the public.
He thought that all of them would admit
that the Council had justified the trust placed
in them during the year to forward the
interests of the profession. One of the first
acts of the Council was to secure the appoint
ment of a third Taxing Master, thus remedy
ing a grievance which had become acute.
They also succeeded, with the full con
currence of the Lord Chancellor and the
Judges, in having Solicitors' costs increased,
generally speaking, by 25 per cent, for the
period of the war, and for six months after,
in order to compensate Solicitors for the
enormously increased establishment expenses
which
they had
to pay owing
to war
conditions.
This increased scale of costs
would be payable for six months after the
date which was hereafter to be fixed as the
actual termination of the war. The Council
had during the year sought to encourage
closer association between the Council and
the Sessional Bar Associations, and he trusted
that this movement might result in an advant
age to the profession, and particularly to those
members who practised in
the country.
They would all join with him in expressing
deep regret at the death of Mr. William
Guest Lane, who was for many years one of
the Southern Law Association representatives
on
the Council, and President of
that
Association ; and of Mr. John L. McDonnell,
who was for some time a representative of
the Northern Law Society on the Council.