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duties. Some years ago, I shared with many o f you
a certain uneasiness that law clerks as such were a
vanishing race and that both the profession and
clients would suffer through our inability to recruit
efficient trustworthy and trained staffs, l am happy
to say that my fears in this matter were somewhat
allayed on a recent occasion when I had the pleasure
o f taking the Chair at a meeting of the Legal
Assistants’ Benevolent Society. I found there a
body o f earnest young men and women who had
Voluntarily and at their own expense taken a course
o f lectures in Real Property with a view to per
fecting their knowledge o f their duties and ren
dering themselves efficient in the very important
functions o f a highly technical nature which they
can be called upon to perform. A colleague who set
and marked examination papers at the end o f these
lectures assured me that the standard was quite high
and that the individuals in question were deserving
o f the highest praise. Is it not a matter of satisfaction
to our profession to realise that such a movement is
on foot and that we can with some confidence feel
that a market o f efficient and earnest workers can
be readily available to us ? As the name o f the
organisation suggests, one of its prime functions is
to create for themselves a benevolent fund to help
such o f their numbers as may be stricken by unem
ployment or ill-health. Surely any conscientious
employer must look with satisfaction on such an
ideal, with its potential for banishing that sense of
insecurity in employees which may lead to discontent
and eventually inefficiency. It is hoped that with
the increased strength o f the organisation that in
time to come it may be possible to formulate a
pensions scheme for those o f their numbers who
are forced by age or infirmity into retirement. Once
again, may I say that the profession should with
satisfaction view these efforts. In passing, may I
say that your Council was already alive to the
desirability of evolving some scheme for the pro
vision o f pensions under such circumstances but as
the motion Ms not yet been discussed I think it
well to say no more about it here. It should not be
necessary to explain here that the views expressed
on this matter are those of Mr. Joseph Barrett and
not o f The President o f the Society or the Council.
I would, however, be surprised and somewhat
disappointed if a great majority o f them are not in
agreement with me.
I hope I have not wearied you by dealing, but in no
great detail, with some outworn topics, but as I
confessed at the beginning, I felt that there was little
new or original to which reference could here be
made. I might if you were prepared to listen to
my purely individual views about the need for law
reform in many directions keep you here for more
time than you are prepared to give. I will, however,
spare you realising that the daily round of the law
as it stands must be done by working practitioners
leaving it to others with the leisure, and above all the
finances, to remake the laws to accord more closely
to the needs and wants o f this atomic age.
Before I sit down—a position which I have had
few opportunities o f adopting during my term as
President—I would like to assure the ordinary
members o f the Society that the Council and its
officers do a tremendous amount o f work which
may not be apparent to those who are not in close
touch with them. They are ever willing to do so and
to lend an ear to any suggestions that may be made
for the better functioning of our Society and pro
fession. In my travels throughout the State, I have
been amazed at what some solicitors conceived to
be the duties and functions of this Council. Their
misconception lay in the fact that they had not taken
the trouble to acquaint themselves with our purpose.
They pictured us as an ageing and chilly tribunal
whose only desire was to chide the erring solicitor,
but to raise not a finger to assist them in their
difficulties or to take any active steps for the better
running o f the profession or for the protection of
our good name and traditions. Perhaps my few
disconnected and rambling remarks as the spokes
man for the time being o f your Council will show
them the error of their ways. We are still under
strength to the extent o f about 200—may it fall
to the lot o f some future President to speak for a
Society 100 per cent, strong. I f it does, the fore
runners o f this Council and this President will have
not laboured in vain to bring about that solidarity
and strength o f purpose which we demand if we are
to take our place in the van of public and adminis
trative activity as the profession best trained and
most suited to do so.
I am merely stating the obvious when I tell you
that the motive force behind us and which kept us
in vigilance and on our toes was Mr. Eric Plunkett
and his excellent staff. In your name I acknowledge
that and in your name give thanks.
Mr. Thomas A. O’Reilly seconded the motion
for the adoption o f the report. Mr. T. D.
McLoughlin moved and Mr. Peadar Cowan seconded
an amendment that Part III of the report be referred
back to the Council. Mr. Sean O hUadhaigh moved
and Air. Desmond Moran seconded the following
amendment—•“ That
the
discussion
of Mr.
AIcLoughlin’ s amendment be deferred until the
Special General Meeting to be held immediately after
this meeting.” Mr. O hUadhaigh’s amendment was
put to the meeting and declared adopted. An objec
tion by Mr. Cowan to the acceptance o f Mr. O.
49