209 / 364
22nd and 23rd October 1966. The hosts will be
the Southern Law Association, who will be co
operating with the General Council of Provincial
Solicitors' Association, and
the S.Y.S.
in
this
venture.
CAR PARKING
Members are requested not to park their cars
outside the Solicitors Buildings in such a way as
to prevent cars already properly parked from
leaving the courtyard.
On several recent occasions it has been necessary
for some members to move three or four cars
already parked in order to drive away from the
premises. If there is insufficient parking space in
the courtyard members are requested not to drive
into the yard.
ISRAELI LAW CONFERENCE
The Law Society of Israel are holding a con
ference in Haifa in the month of August. The
American Express and Swissair Companies have
arranged
two
tours one
from Monday, 22nd
August
to Tuesday, 6th September,
the other
from Monday, 29th August
to Tuesday, 13th
September, to coincide with the conference. Mem
bers who are interested in attending the confer
ence should note that tour prices are as follows:
'A' grade hotels £184;
'B' grade hotels £164.
The price includes air transportation from London
Airport back to London Airport. Members wishing
to make arrangements to travel should contact
Felix O'Neill, Esq., Swiss Air Transport Co. Ltd.,
Grafton Buildings, 34 Grafton Street, Dublin 2.
(Phone 78173).
SOLICITORS' BENEVOLENT
ASSOCIATION
102nd Annual Report of the Association
December 1965
The directors have pleasure in presenting their
report for the year ending 30th November 1965
together with receipts and expenditure account
for that period.
The directors extend their sincere sympathy to
the relatives and friends of the following members
who died during the year, namely Mrs. Maureen
A. Gallen, James Reilly, Charles Magwood, Des
mond Early, Edward M. Fitzgerald, Thomas
Hanafey, Francis S. Collins, Francis L. Scott, Rev.
:, Arthur Cox, Owen, Binchy, Ricjhard Ryan, Cecil
G. Stapleton and David R. Pigot. Both Mr.
Stapleton and Mr. Pigot gave many years of
devoted service as officers of the Association, being
most regular in attendance at the monthly meet
ings. Their ever wise and helpful advice will not
be easy to replace.
The number of annual and life members has
fallen to a small extent and this is all the more
distressing when it is noted that almost £4,000
has been distributed in relief which is the highest
figure in over one hundred years.
The number of persons relieved is not unusually
high but it should be noted that all applications
are carefully considered and only the most deser
ving receive assistance. The changing cost of living
has progressively necessitated an increase in the
average grant including annuitants, who in recent
years, receive an extra £25 at Christinas and in
July each year.
An analysis of twenty recipients of grants made
during the year shows as follows:
(a) Average age—61 years.
(b) Status—14 widows of solicitors; 3 solicitors;
2 solicitors' wives; 1 daughter of a deceased
solicitor.
(c) Average income per annum £180 exclusive
of Association's Grant.
(d) Ill-health—7.
In 1966 one must need pause to wonder how
these once reasonably circumstanced members of
the community can survive at an average age of
61 years on an average annual income of £3-9-2
per week !
This should awaken those in the pro
fession who have failed to join the Association to
do so for the modest annual subscription of one
guinea.
Were it not for the continued watchful activity
of your directors on the finance committee in
maintaining the income of our portfolio in these
difficult times it would not be possible to maintain
the average level of the grants.
To facilitate members to appreciate the direc
tors' problems,' particulars of one grant appli
cation, taken at random, are as follows: Applicant
was aged 59 and the widow of a solicitor. One
daughter just commencing in commercial life and
residing with applicant, who herself was a shop
assistant at £7 per week. No other income. Rent
of flat £11 per month towards which daughter has
just commenced to contribute. Rent, electricity
and gas cost approximately £2 per week and
taking everything into consideration applicant has
:£2-10-0; per week to live upon.
l-n Once again attention is drawn to the possibility
103