164 / 266
and (
b
) provided that in case o f doubt as to the title
a local authority might deal with the person regis
tered under the Registration of Title Acts as
absolute owner. A circular was sent by the Society
to the solicitors who act for local authorities and to
the bar association. Having considered the replies
to the Society’s circular, the Committee, whose report
was adopted, recommended that a letter should be
written to the Minister for Local Government
stating that the Society opposes the Bill and that by
seeking to abolish the investigation o f title it would
open the door to fraud.
Solicitor’s Office used for Clients’ Business.
A
member
who was a director o f a hire purchase
company inquired whether his name might be printed
on the company’s notepaper. He was informed that
there would be no objection provided that he was
not described thereon as a solicitor. He also inquired
whether there would be any objection to the business
of the hire purchase company being conducted from
his office and whether he might act as Secretary to
the company. In the Committee’s report, which
was adopted, it was stated that there was no objection
to members acting as Secretary o f the company and
to the use o f his office as the registered office of
the company, provided that the business office of
o f the company is situated elsewhere.
Press Notice o f Telephone Number.
T
he
Council on the report of the Committee
expressed the opinion that a solicitor whose name
and office number had been accidently omitted from
the Directory by the Department of Posts & Tele
graphs might publish in the press notice of his name,
address and telephone number on the same condi
tions and manner as notices of change of telephone
number i.e., one notice in each Irish daily or weekly
newspaper circulating in the locality, not having the
form or appearance of an advertisement.
Circuit and District Court costs under the
New Jurisdiction.
M
embers
asked for the opinion o f the Council as
to the costs chargeable in cases falling within the
extended jurisdiction pending the making o f new
scales of costs. The Council expressed the opinion
that pending the making of new rules, there is no
scale of party and party costs for cases falling within
the extended jurisdiction. Members were advised
by circular that the absence o f tiew scales of District
Court costs would be sufficient reason for continuing
to institute proceedings in the Circuit Court until
new District Court rules are made. The increased
jurisdiction o f the Circuit Court (except in probate
actions) appears to be covered by the existing scales
of costs until altered. It is understood that new
rules have been made by the District Court Rules
Committee and submitted to the Minister for his
concurrence.
iit h
M
a r c h
: T
he
President in the chair. Also
present: Messrs. John R. Halpin, Vice-President,
Arthur Cox, William J. Norman, Ralph J. Walker,
Patrick R. Boyd, Henry St. J. Blake, John Carrigan,
Thomas A. O’Reilly, Louis E . O’Dea, John J.
Sheil, George G. Overend, Derrick M. Martin,
Cornelius J. Daly, Charles J. Downing, John
Maher, Peter E . O’Connell, Francis J. Gearty,
James J. O’Connor, James R. Quirke, Sean
O hUadhaigh, Patrick F. O’Reilly, Niall S.
Gaffney, Joseph P. Tyrrell, Dermot P. Shaw.
The following was among the business transacted :
The meeting passed a vote o f condolence with the
widow o f the late Mr. Gerald O’Donnell, a member
and former Vice-President of the Council.
Department o f External Affairs and Foreign
Estates.
A
C
ommittee
o f the Council reported that repre
sentatives of the Society discussed with the Depart
ment o f External Affairs on the form o f the circular
in use whereby potential claimants to estates situate
abroad are notified by the Department o f their
interest. It had come to the Society’s notice that
in some cases, possible claimants had been
approached by the Gardai who had notified them
of their interest and o f the fact that the Department
were willing to act for them. It was submitted
to the Department that the Gardai should not be
used for this purpose, and that the Department, by
allowing the Gardai to make these communications
were entering into competition with the solicitors’
profession. Following the conference, the Depart
ment submitted a revised draft o f the letter issued
to claimants which the'Committee considered satis
factory.
The Department stated that the only
practicable means o f ascertaining the names of the
beneficiaries was through the local Gardai, but
that they were not committed to this expedient and
that if the Society could suggest any better alterna
tive, it could be considered. In the report o f the
Committee, which was adopted, it was stated that
the amended draft letter submitted by the Depart
ment was satisfactory and should be adopted for
use both by the Irish consuls abroad and by the
Department in Dublin when writing to beneficiaries.
If it is necessary to avail of the services of the Gardai
in contacting beneficiaries, the Gardai should be
instructed merely to take their names and addresses
without making any communication to them and to
forward the information to the Department. The