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58
The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.
[DECEMBER, 1909
as compared with land in England. There
might be some explanation for that, but at
first sight it was placing Ireland in an unfair
position as regarded England.
He shared in the regret that had been ex
pressed by Mr. Fry as regarded the Solicitors
Apprentices' Debating Society.
From per
sonal practical experience he could speak of
the high educational value of that Society, and
he was glad to see the Council were taking this
matter into consideration. He had always
found the relations existing between the
Council and the Debating Society were those
of an exceedingly indulgent father to a child,
and he was sorry to see that anything had
happened
to break
these relations.
He
hoped every effort would be made to repair
the existing state of things and to re-establish
the Society in the vigorous, healthy condition
it was always in before (hear, hear).
THE PRESIDENT then put the resolu
tion, which was passed.
Notices of Motion.
IRISH AS AN EXAMINATION SUBJECT.
MR. QUAID, who had given notice of the
following motion :—" That as from the com-
" mencement of the year 1911, Irish be an
" essential subject in the curriculum for the
" Solicitors Apprentices' Examination instead
" of being an optional subject as at present,
" and that the standard of proficiency in
" essential Irish be fixed by the Council when
"prescribing
the curriculum
for
1911,"
informed the President that it was not his
intention to move it, but with the permission
of the meeting he would suggest to the
Council that the existing optional course in
Irish for the Preliminary Examination should
be reconsidered.
Bye-Laws.
MR. RODNEY moved that the Bye-laws
should be amended so as to provide that for
the first three years after admission Dublin
members should only pay a subscription of
10s. per annum to the Society. He urged
that it would be an advantage to the members
themselves and an advantage to the Society
to have younger members in the Society.
The young Solicitor would then have for his
use a Library which he could not possibly set
up for himself, and he would have the further
advantage of being able to take part in the
discussions which
the general meetings
provided ;
while he would not only become
acquainted with the members of his pro
fession, but they would have an opportunity
of becoming acquainted with him. He was
glad to'say that there were two precedents
for the proposal he brought forward—first,
the country Solicitors and the town Solicitors,
and, second, the Stamp Duty. And then
they made
special
distinction
between
Solicitors under three years' standing and
over three years' standing. There must have
been some reason why the Judicature did
so, and he did not see why it should not be
good enough for the Society to do so. The
English Society had made this provision.
THE PRESIDENT :
The members of the
Council, I think, would be quite prepared—
if that would meet with your
idea—to
consider this matter at the same time as
Mr. Patrick Brady's resolution, and report
to the meeting next May. You see, Mr.
Brady suggests that all Solicitors should be
practically members, and that, of course,
would dispose of your resolution ;
but I do
not see any reason why we should not also
take into consideration the resolution which
you put forward.
MR. RODNEY :
I would like to differen
tiate between them.
THE PRESIDENT: The whole matter
must be considered by the Council.
MR. RODNEY :
I will be very happy to
leave it in the same position as Mr. Brady's
resolution.
MR. J. BARRY BROWN having seconded
the resolution proposed by Mr. Rooney, it was
resolved that the subject be referred to the
Council to be reported upon to the May
General Meeting.
Membership.
MR. PATRICK J. BRADY then formally
moved his motion, which is given above.
MR. W. GEOGHEGAN
seconded
the
motion, which was passed.
MR. C. ST. G. ORPEN (Vice-President)
having been moved to the second chair,
SIR GEORGE ROCHE proposed a vote
of thanks to Mr. Shannon, their worthy
President, for presiding over them not only
that day, but also during his year of office