The Gazette 1949-1952

the profession was that the section apparently enabled the Land Commission to acquire the land by the transfer order procedure without the necessity o f any formal conveyance, which would adversely affect solicitors’ remuneration. The President reported that the deputation had been satisfied on both points. An assurance had been obtained from the Assistant Secretary o f the Department o f Lands that in no case would a transfer order be made until after the sale has been completed in the ordinary way, the object of the transfer order being to remedy any possible defect in the purchaser’s title. The The Secretary reported that he had received a letter from Mr. J. J. O’Connor, who instituted proceed­ ings on behalf o f the Society under section 53 against the firm of Philpag & Co. for pretending to be qualified to act as solicitors, stating that the defendants had offered to indemnify' the Society against their costs if the prosecution was with­ drawn and undertook not to repeat the offence. It was ordered that Mr. O’Connor should agree to have the proceedings struck out on these terms. Salaries o f Solicitors in Government Legal Offices. T he Secretary read a letter received from the Department of Finance in reply to the memorandum submitted by the Society to the Minister on the salaries and conditions o f service o f solicitors in the legal offices. Further consideration in the matter was adjourned. Dail Eireann, 2nd March, 1950 M r . P. L ehane : I would suggest to the city Deputies, including Deputy Captain Cowan, that they have plenty o f problems to which to apply themselves in the city. When they have solved those problems they can then come out and speak to the country. Reference was made here to the agricultural workers as being the depressed class. In my experience—-I speak for Cork, about which I know something, but I am sure the same applies in Dublin—the depressed classes are the unfortunate typists who work for solicitors for 15/- and 20/- a week and are expected to pay their bus fares and buy their lunches out o f it. An Ceann Comhairle : That has nothing to do with this. report was adopted. Society v . Philpag PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

Mr. Sweetman : And it is entirely untrue. Mr. P. D. Lehane : Mention was made of the depressed classes and the agricultural worker was referred to as a depressed class by certain city Deputies. Captain Cowan : Fie is treated like a slave. Mr. P. D. Lehane : But nothing like the slaves in the solicitors’ offices in Cork. An Ceann Comhairle: The wages of typists have nothing to do with this Bill. Deputy’s personal explanation, 9th March, 1950 M r . P. D. L ehane : With your permission, Sir, there is a matter I should like to mention very briefly. When speaking on the Agricultural Workers (Holidays) Bill last Thursday------ An Ceann Comhairle: Is this a personal explanation ? Mr. P. D. Lehane : Yes. Speaking on what I regarded as reliable information, I said that typists who work for solicitors were asked to work for 15/- and 20/- per week and were expected to pay their bus fares and for their lunches out of that. Since then I have received letters from the Dublin Bar Solicitors’ Association, and from the Southern Law Association, Cork, taking exception to my remarks. I was not aware until it was pointed out to me by the Southern Law Association that the Labour Court had fixed a wage o f 25/- a week for solicitors’ typists, and I want to apologise to solicitors and the associations. A Deputy: They will not be long making a fortune with that. N ote . —Comment on this “ explanation ” would be superfluous, but steps have been taken to draw the Deputy’s attention to its inaccuracy. Mr. P. D. Lehane is a Deputy for South Cork, and should not be confused with Mr. Conor Lehane, T.D ., solicitor.

PROFESSIONAL ITEMS Judgment for untaxed Bill o f Costs

A n important point o f Circuit Court practice and one o f particular interest to solicitors was decided by Judge Connolly sitting at Chancery Place on the 1 2th January last. A solicitor had sued his client for the amount o f an untaxed bill o f costs. There was no appearance for the defendant and 54