The Gazette 1949-1952

increases in our fees do not meet the realistic, approach which we are entitled to expect. On the other hand the Department o f Finance some years ago saw no anomaly in increasing the stamp duties by 400 per cent, and the office fees payable to the Land Registry in some cases up to 500 per cent, at a time when pressure is being brought on solicitors to Local Bodies to reduce their charges. Every effort is made by the profession as a whole and the Society, in particular, to maintain the standards o f trust, confidence and dignity which are normally associated with and reposed in the solicitors’ profession. Speaking in broad terms no other profession in this country is the recipient of so much trust. The record o f the profession for many years past shows that confidence is very rarely misplaced. In my view it is most undesirable that the present unsatisfactory position o f solicitors’ remuneration must necessarily have the effect of gravely interfering with the standard o f living of the members o f the profession. A prosperous and independent profession is a very definite safeguard o f the public interest. E ducation : The general standard o f education in Ireland appears to me to be on the decline. This is reflected in the quality of the applicants for admission to the profession and to our office staffs. This short­ coming is not peculiar to our profession and, naturally, is a cau se o f grave concern to those look­ ing to the future o f the country and the profession. I have referred to a number o f points o f immediate interest to the profession as a whole. Many other points may have occupied the attention o f your Council since the last General Meeting o f the Society. In dealing with these many problems the members of the Council endeavour to justify the confidence you have reposed in them by electing them to represent you. Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to thank you for your attendance and Mr. Gaffney for his kindness in deputising for me.” The meeting then considered the special business mentioned in the agenda, namely, the appointment of five members to the Nomination Committee for the Cultural and Electoral Panel pursuant to the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1947, section' 22. The Chairman proposed the following names for appointment to the Committee:— Arthur Cox, Francis J. Gearty, Patrick F. O’Reilly, James R. Quirke, John J. Sheil. There was no other proposal and the Chairman’s proposal was unanimously adopted. Mr. Boyd . proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman for his conduct

o f the meeting which the Chairman suitably acknow­ ledged. There was no other business and the proceedings terminated. SEANAD ELECTION A t a Special General Meeting o f the Society on May 29th, it was decided to propose the following members for nomination 'to the Cultural and Educational Panel at the pending election to the Seanad : LECTURER! IN EQUITY AND REAL PROPERTY T he Council invite applications from solicitors for the position o f Lecturer in Equity and Real Property. Particulars of the terms and conditions of appoint­ ment may be obtained from the Secretary o f the Society, Solicitors’ Buildings, Four Courts, Dublin. Preliminary Examination A t the Preliminary Examination for intending apprentices to solicitors held on the 2nd and 3rd days of April, the following candidates were successful and their names are arranged in order o f merit:— 1. Gordon Alan Henderson; 2. Peter J . Cyril Coyle. The remaining candidates are postponed. Six candidates entered, 2 passed, 4 failed. Final Examination A t the Final Examination for apprentices to solicitors, held on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th days o f April, the following candidates were successful and their names are arranged in order of merit:—• 1. Francis E. A. Taylor ; 2. Leonard A. Davies ; 3. T. Finbarr O’Reilly ; 4. Mary P. Gallagher ; 5. Edmund S. Doyle; 6. David R. P igo t; 7. Michael Lucas ; 8. Edward R. Rogers ; 9. Comhghall U. MacGuill; 10. Ernest J. Margetson; 11. Desmond E. M. Matthews and Daniel A. White ( equal ) ; 13. Eileen Mary Woulfe ; .14. Brendan J . Wallace; 15. James P. Woods; 16. Patrick U. Murphy ; 17. Kevin P. Loftus ; 18. Mary B. P. O’Mahoney; 19. Patrick J. McCormack; 20. EXAMINATION RESULTS Patrick F. O’Reilly, Dublin, William J. Norman, Dublin.

Edward A. Fagan; 21. Daniel G. Shields; 22. Kevin J. Callanan; 23. Thomas M. L. Coyle; 24. William E. T. flradshaw. 7