158 / 338
to ascertaining whether arrangements can be made
to enable drafts in pursuance of payments schedules
to be issued by the Accountant General of the High
Court during the long vacation.
Delivery of pleadings during the long vacation
The Council having considered a report in this
matter decided to amend the direction given at their
meeting on July 2nd
(Gazette,
July 1959, page 23)
and in lieu thereof the Society's representatives on
the Superior Courts Rules Committee were request
ed to ask the committee to make a new rule which
will enable pleadings to be delivered and filed during
the long vacation where all parties to the proceedings
consent.
Auctioneers preparing contract for sale of
property
It was decided that representations should be
made to the Irish Auctioneers and Estate Agents
Association pointing out that it is contrary to the
provisions of the Solicitors Act 1954 for unqualified
persons to draw up contracts for sale of property
for or in expectation of fee or reward and pointing
out that the Council are aware of cases in which
auctioneers and house agents have contravened this
provision. The Association are to be asked to state
whether any steps can be taken to prevent or dis
courage the practice.
OCTOBER STH :
The President in the Chair. Also
present, Messrs. N. S. Gaffney, John Kelly, R. J.
Walker, J. R. Green, G. G. Overend, John Maher,
F. J. Lanigan, P. E. O'Connell, Eunan McCarron,
Patrick Noonan, D. M. Martin, Reginald J. Nolan,
T. A. O'Reilly, D. P. Shaw, J. J. Sheil, George
A. Nolan, John Carrigan, John J. Nash. J. P.
Tyrrell, D. *B. Gilmore, J. J. O'Connor and R.
Me D. Taylor.
The following was among the business transacted :
Petroleum and other Minerals Development
Bill, 1959
The Council considered a report on the bill and
it was decided to invite the Bar Council to send a
joint deputation to the Minister for Industry and
Commerce on
certain objectionable provisions
iherein.
Professional undertakings
On a case submitted for their opinion the Council
stated that as between the parties a solicitor who
gave an undertaking to lodge title deeds on behalf
of a client with the client's bankers on the com
pletion of a purchase was bound to carry out the
undertaking although no provision was made for
his costs. The undertaking was unconditional and
was silent on the question of provision for member's
costs.
Lecture by solicitor on legal subject
A member enquired whether there would be any
professional objection to his delivering a lecture on
a legal topic by invitation to a voluntary association.
The Council referred to the statement printed in the
Society's Gazette, April 1944, as follows :—
Any activity on the part of a solicitor of a self
advertising nature designed to attract business is
clearly not permissible.
Lectures delivered or
articles published by a solicitor contrary to this
principle therefore necessarily involve a breach of
professional etiquette.
The Council stated that on the facts submitted in
the present case there is no professional objection
to the delivery by member of the lecture mentioned
provided that it is not published in connection with
his name.
OCTOBER 29™ :
The President in the Chair. Also
present, Messrs. John Carrigan, N. S. Gaffney, P.
O'Donnell, George A. Nolan, J. J. Sheil, F. J.
Lanigan, G. G. Overend, W. Dillon-Leetch, J. J.
O'Connor, D. M. Martin, Reginald J. Nolan, D. B.
Gilmore, C. J. Downing, John Kelly, John Maher,
Patrick Noonan, E. McCarron, P. E. O'Connell,
J. R. Green, T. G. Quirke, T. de V. White, W. J.
Comerford, C. G. Daly, Arthur Cox, J. P. Tyrrell,
R. J. Walker, Edward Treacy, J. J. Nash and D. J.
Mayne.
The following was among the business transacted :
Ambulance Chasing
The Council considered a report from a com-
'
mittee submitting draft regulations dealing with the
association of solicitors with ambulance chasing
bodies. Draft regulations are printed at page 45 of
this issue and the Council will be obliged if any
member with views thereon will communicate with
the Secretary.
Land Commission Costs
The President reported that, accompanied by the
Secretary, he had been received by the Minister for
Lands, who had informed the Society's representa
tives that he was willing to make new regulations
increasing solicitors' fees and charges under the
Land Commission Provisional Rules, 1924, by an
amount equal to 50% calculated on the present item
charges.
44