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LABOURERS' ACTS COSTS
Solicitors' costs in connection with the acquisition
of land for the erection of cottages were until
ist August, 1957, regulated by rule 51 and 52 of
the Labourers (Ireland) Order, 1912 and these rules
also provided for the appointment of a,
special
taxing officer to tax the costs. The rules mentioned
ceased to have effect as respects business undertaken
by a solicitor on or after ist August, 1957, as
provided by the
terms
in the Labourers Acts
(Solicitors' Remuneration) Order, 1957 (S.I. No. 144
of 1957). The object of the change was that solicitors'
costs in connection with the acquisition of lands for
cottages would be chargeable as from ist August,
1957, on the basis governing costs as between
solicitor and client and that they would be taxable
by the Taxing Masters of the High Court. Doubts
have arisen, however, as to whether the Taxing
Masters have power to tax these costs and the matter
is under consideration by the Department of Local
Government. At the request of the Society the
Department has issued a circular to the County
Managers suggesting that local authorities might
exercise their discretion by settling such bills without
taxation or making interim payments or some other
suitable arrangement which will avoid any hardship
which might arise if the bills or costs were left
unpaid pending arrangements to have them taxed.
DUBLIN SOLICITORS' BAR
ASSOCIATION
A meeting of the Council was held on Wednesdays
4th May, 1960.
A vote of sympathy was passed on the death of
Mr. Patrick R. Boyd, Solicitor, a former Council
member of the Law Society and a Director of the
Benevolent Association.
The Sub-committee drafting a standard form of
Auction Particulars and Conditions of Sale reported
progress.
A Sub-committee consisting of the President, the
Honorary Secretary, Mr. Brendan Walshe and
Mr. J. B. McGarry was appointed to consider the
desirability of revising the Association's rules and of
procuring the incorporation of the Association.
The attention of members is drawn to the desira
bility, in certain cases where damages for infants
would be held for a relatively short period, of
applying to the Court for liberty to invest all or part
of the sum awarded in prize bonds instead of the
normal interest yielding securities.
The next meeting was fixed for Wednesday,
ist June, 1960.
MAYO SOLICITORS' BAR
ASSOCIATION
held in the
Friday,
on
The Annual General Meeting was
Bar Room, Courthouse, Castlebar,
29th April, 1960.
The following Officers were elected for 1960-61 :
President:
Edward Fitzgerald;
Vice President:
Patrick J. Mulligan;
Hon. Treasurer:
Bea M.
Hynes ;
Hon. Secretary :
John F. Garavan.
Council:
Edward A. Corr ; William Dillon-Leetch ; Thomas
V. O'Connor; Patrick J. McEllin and Patrick J.
Shanley.
The following suggestions were put forward by
members as improvements which could be effected
to the benefit of the profession.
(1) Probate costs should be on percentage scale of
the gross assets.
(2) That certified cheques be accepted by the
Probate Department in lieu of Stamps.
(3) That the Bond in papers leading to Grants of
Administration should simply contain: " President
of the High Court " without including his Christian
or surnames.
(4) That it should only be necessary to sign the
Schedule of Assets at one place, i.e., on Page (i).
(5) That the Revenue Commissioners and the
Land Registry Officials should type their queries in
duplicate.
On a general discussion about professional matters,
the following resolution was proposed and carried :
That the Hon. Secretary inform the Secretary of
the Incorporated Law Society that it is
the
unanimous view of the Association that one
Solicitor should not act for both parties in a sale
for valuable consideration and that this resolution
be introduced on a. national scale with statutory
force.
CARLOW BAR ASSOCIATION
Officers and committee :
President:
Samuel Roche, Tullow ;
Chairman :
Hugh O'Donnell, Carlow;
Hon. Secretary
and
Hon.
Treasurer :
Desmond Early, Carlow.
Committee :
Francis J. Lanigan, Carlow; Arthur W. Jeffers,
Carlow ; Patrick J. Cody, Bagenalstown.
SOLICITORS' GOLFING SOCIETY
The Spring Meeting of the Society was held at
Athlone Golf Club (by kind permission) on Saturday,
7th May, 1960, when an exceptionally fine Prize,
presented by the Captain, Mr. W. A. Tormey, was
played for. Thirty-five members took out cards, and
the scoring generally on a difficult course was of a
very high order.