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ment further at this stage save to say that both
are receiving careful consideration by Committees
set up by the Council. The latter, however, seems
to be
rather
like
the Curate's egg—good
in
parts !
It displays, however, a trend which I have
found it necessary to comment on and to criticise
on a number of occasions since I became President,
namely, the transfer of power away from the
Courts and into the hands of permanent officials.
The independence of our Judiciary and of the
Courts over which they preside is something of
which we are justly proud.
Here let me depart from the text of my speech
for a few moments to tender my most sincere
apologies to the members of our Judiciary for the
uncalled for attack made recently upon them by
a member of the profession. Making all due al
lowance for
the fact that a body of students
comprised the audience, the language used was so
intemperate as to verge upon vulgar abuse. An
individual
is entitled to hold and voice his or
her opinion but I would have thought that a
trained lawyer would have learnt to express that
opinion without being offensive to a body de
barred from controversy and denied the right of
reply. I feel I cannot emphasise too strongly that
the views expressed were those only of the in
dividual concerned and are entirely repudiated by
your Council, this Society and its members.
It is a matter of grave concern for every citizen
that a significant feature of recent legislation is
the taking away from the Courts and into the
hands of officials, no matter how competent,
matters affecting the material welfare and the
freedom of the individual. As I have said earlier,
reform of the law is to be welcomed but I do ursre
o
the Minister
to afford at
least a
reasonable
breathing space
to enable us
to assimilate the
changes which have taken place and in many
cases to unlearn what has been the practice and
procedure of a legal lifetime. At the present time
we are experiencing a rush of students seeking
to embark upon legal careers. If this is to con
tinue for any lenght of time it could only result
in serious overcrowding in the profession with ail
its resulting hardships.
I do therefore want
to
issue a warning to those parents whose children
may be contemplating taking up law that the
profession offers no easy way of
life and that
its members are confined to the Republic in the
practice of their profession.
Delay in Government Departments
I and my fellow members are only too well
aware of
those exasperating delays
in various
Government departments which make life so dif
ficult for all of us. Representations on these mat
ters are being made constantly and
interviews
taking place with departmental heads. It is clear,
however, that inadequacy of trained staff'
is a
main factor and that this results from two causes,
namely, the inadequacy of remuneration provided
by the Department of Finance and the drain
away to more remunerative employment in com
mercial fields.
Standard Conditions of Sale and Building
Contracts
During the past six months standard conditions
of sale relationg both to sales by private treaty
and public auction have been introduced. The
copyright of these is held by the Society. They
have proved generally satisfactory but members
views as to any desireable amendments are in
vited and will be considered when printing the
1967 edition.
A Committee of the Council has had under
consideration a standard form of building con
tract for use by the profession.I am aware that
in the past advantage was taken of boom con
ditions to impose restrictive conditions on pur
chasers both as
regards
title and
the normal
warranties and conditions as to workmanship and
materials. A standard form of building contract
has now been drawn up and will shortly be
available to members of the Society and is re
commended for general use. I hope that pract
itioners will adopt it.
Benevolent Association
There is one matter to which I must refer and
that is to appeal to all of you to give your loyal
support to the Benevolent Association. The work
of this Association is far too seldom publicised.
The help given to those less fortunate members
of
the profession,
their widows and
relations
through the medium of the Association reflects
the greatest credit upon those devoted and dedic
ated members who administer
its
funds. The
numbers of members of the Society who do not
subscribe to the Benevolent Fund is far too large
and I
feel sure that if it
is only brought to
their notice
the really charitable work '-that
is
being done they will no longer defer becoming
subscribers. In this connection I would appeal to
the Secretary of each Bar Association
to en
deavour to ensure among his members 100 per
cent membership of the Benevolent Association.
Bar Associations
Although I have been in office only a matter
of five months, already I have seen enough of the