The Gazette 1961 - 64

England and Mrs. Hicks, the President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland and Mrs. McMillan, the President of the Law Society of Scotland and Mrs. Watson, the Secretary of the Law Society of Scotland and Mrs. Laurie, the Secretary of the Law Society of Northern Ireland, Mr. Murray, District Justice T. G. Burke and Mrs. Burke, and the County Registrar, Galway, and Mrs. O'Donnell. On Sunday a number of members and their wives made a trip to Cong, some by motor launch across Lough Corrib. Members and their friends attended an Irish Evening at the Great Southern Hotel on Sunday, June 4th, at which a performance of Irish dancing and songs given by Mr. Pascal Spellman and a group of Irish dancers was greatly appreciated. THE DUBLIN SOLICITORS' BAR ASSOCIATION Summary of activities of the above Association at meetings held on 2nd November 1960, 7th Dec– ember 1960, 4th January 1961, ist February 1961, ist March 1961, 5th April 1961, 3rd May 1961, and yth June 1961 : 1. A Resolution of Sympathy was passed to the widow of the late Judge McCarthy. 2. Revised rules of the Association were approved at the Annual General Meeting and these will be circulated to members during the year. 3. A subscription of £5 55. was sent by the Association to the Congo Fund. 4. Pursuant to the provisions of the Solicitors' Act, 1960, the Council of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland co-opted as extra– ordinary members of the Council, Messrs. J. B. McGarry, C. Hyland and D. Moran being the representatives of the Association. 5. The Association's form of tenancy agreement is now exclusively being sold by Messrs. A. & S. Donaldson Ltd., and all enquiries regarding same should be sent to them. 6. The Council of the Association, on an enquiry from the Council of the Incorporated Law Society, were of the opinion that the cost of a hand search on the closing of a sale, when the Negative or Common Search was not ready because of delay in the Registry of Deeds, should be borne by the Vendor. 7. Representations were made to the Registrars of the High Court regarding the unsatisfactory listing of Circuit Court appeals and were assured that steps would be taken to try and improve the position. 8. A Scale of Costs for the Circuit and District Courts, showing proposed increases and also

MR. JOHN A. KENNEDY (Monaghan) said that those who supported the making of regulations must be of opinion that there are a great number of bad titles in the country. He thought the regulations should not be made. MR. LESLIE E. KEARON (Dublin) stated that he supported the proposal to make the regulations. MR. JOHN GRIFFIN (Louth) speaking personally said that he thought the proposed regulations would cause a diversion of clients. Was it intended to make them applicable to such cases as tenancy agreements? He saw no difficulty in deciding whether it would be proper to act for both parties in individual cases. Solicitors should have sufficient independence and courage to make that decision. MR. FRANCIS J. GANNON (Leitrim) said that he was against regulations. MR. PETER O'CoNNOR (Waterford) stated that he favoured the making of regulations limited to certain cases, e.g. sales by public auction or in which auctioneers or house agents are employed. MR. PATRICK CUSACK (Cavan) spoke against the making of regulations. MR. DOMINIC H. DOWLING (Dublin) said that regulations should not be made unless they could be enforced. He thought that the present Professional Practice Regulations dealing with undercutting, touting and other matters are not enforced. MR. MICHAEL O'MEARA (Nenagh) stated that the regulation would be very effective in dealing with solicitors who are not willing to join a Bar Association. He was in favour of the proposed regulation. MR. PATRICK NOONAN (Meath) stated that although he personally supported the proposed regulations he felt that there was at least a large minority against the regulations and said that regulations should not be passed by a simple majority. He thought that the public might look at this proposal as a device to increase costs. THE PRESIDENT, in closing the discussion, stated that he would not accept any resolution. The discussion had been valuable in clearing the air and enabling the Council to inform themselves of the various viewpoints of different members of the profession. The Council favoured the creation of strong Bar Associations. In a reference to the Accounts Regulations he stated that if the Society had failed to take action it was certain that the Government would have done so. And no one should have any regrets that the regulations had been brought in. Mr. T. Desmond McLoughlin under general business spoke on the importance of representation of the junior members of the profession in the Society with a view to protecting their interests and raising the general level of the profession. As there was no further business the President declared the meeting closed. SOCIAL EVENTS On Friday evening, June 2nd, members and their ladies met informally at the Great Southern Hotel. On Saturday afternoon a number of the members took part in the golf competition organised by the Solicitors' Golfing Society. There was an attendance of over zoo at a dinner- dance of the Society at the Warwick Hotel on Saturday evening. Among the guests were His Hon. Judge Durcan, the President of the Law Society of