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that there are many deserving qualified persons
whose plight has not been brought to the notice
of the directors. Even though further demands
may necessitate a realisation of some capital (a
course which the directors would feel fully justified
in taking) members are requested to bring every
such case known to them to the attention of the
directors.
The vote on a resolution to increase subscrip
tions (effective from 1967 inclusive) in the terms
of the resolution printed earlier in this report may
result in an easing of the general position.
"The secretary has recently written to all provin
cial directors requesting them in particular to seek
new members in their area. A list of the provincial
directors appears in the recent Annual Report
which was sent to every solicitor on the rolls and
the secretary would appreciate if members would
co-operate with the provincial directors in every
way possible."
Meetings of the metropolitan directors for the
remainder of this year will be held on the follow
ing dates: 4th May; 8th June; 6th July; 5th
October; 2nd November; 7th December; and ap
plication forms for grants are available from the
secretary. These
applications
are
dealt with
promptly and cash grants are made of varying
sums up to about £175 depending on circum
stances. Grants have frequently been made to
assist in the education of the children of appli
cants or to defray some special item of expense.
The directors do not interview applicants or visit
them in their homes.
"At the recent general meeting the following
change of rule was adopted:
Members of the Association shall have the
option of becoming life or annual members.
A payment of fifteen guineas shall constitute
a life member, and an annual subscription
(in advance) of two guineas, or in the case of
apprentices and
those admitted
less
than
three years, half a guinea, shall constitute an
annual member. An annual member may at
any time constitute himself a life member by
increasing his current year's subscription to
the sum of fifteen guineas.
"One reason why this rule was not pressed for
ward until now was because of the laready poor
response from the profession, but it is sincerely
hoped that with the active support of the provin
cial directors and the members in their locality
that the Association may experience a change for
the better so that they can continue and increase
the good work for what is a small but most deser
ving section of the community."
INTERIM AWARD OF DAMAGES
The following is an extract taken from a report
which appeared in the
Daily Telegraph
on Thurs
day, 10th March 1966 under the heading "Law
yers Plan to Reduce Delays in Crash Claims".
Steps to reduce the delays of trials for damages
arising out of road accidents are outlined in a
report published yesterday by Justice,
the all-
party group of lawyers.
As an immediate measure the report recom
mends that trials should be split into two stages.
The first stage would be held as soon as possible
after the accident to decide who was responsible.
The court would then have power to make an
interim award of damages. But the final assess
ment of damages would come at the second stage
when the extent and effect of the victim's injuries
were precisely known.
The report, prepared by a committee of prac
tising barristers and solicitors and academic law
yers, says that the victim of a road accident might
be 'at his wits end' to keep up mortgage instal
ments and to meet other family commitments
while awaiting the trial.
Anxiety might induce him to accept a settlement
for far less than he would have received if he
could have afforded to wait for the court's award.
A two-stage trial would avoid the hardship and
inefficiency of the present system.
The time gap between the date of the accident
and the date of judgment in the High Court
varied from between about eighteen months and
nine years. The majority of cases came to trial
after about three years.
Some cases were delayed because of the diffi
culty in making a firm medical prognosis of the
lasting effects the injuries were likely to have on
the plaintiff. Memories of witnesses faded which
made it more difficult for the judge to deduce who
was to blame for the accident.
PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE
SOLICITORS ACTS
By Order of the President of the High Court of
1st April 1966 the name Richard J. Elgee, Solici
tor, George Street, Wexford, has been removed
from the roll of solicitors and his bank accounts
frozen.
By Order of the President of the High Court of
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