The Gazette 1915-16

016-

The Gazette ol the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

50

valuable practices. The Apprentices, perhaps, were really the best of the lot, but the law clerk who had gone was just as deserving of their tribute as any man great or small. The second part of the resolution dealt with the duty of the Solicitors' profession to the country and the Empire, and he thought that might be divided into the duty of the Solicitors above military age, and those who were not. It was the duty of every man of military age at present to see that every man who was suitable and fit should go and fight this country's battles for this war is one in which Ireland was as much engaged as any other country in Europe. People who wanted to hear a recruiting speech had only to read the words of Mr. John Redmond which should be sent broadcast throughout the United Kingdom. This is what Mr. Redmond said :— " I would say to the Irish people, that Ireland " for ever would be disgraced in the history of " the world if, having sent those men to the " front, they did not raise the necessary reserves " to fill every gap that may rise in their ranks, " so that in the future they may be able to " say : ' When religion, liberty and civilisation " were at stake I did my duty, and will be " able to hand down to my son the proud " recollection of his father's courage and " determination.' " Mr. Redmond had struck the true note, and his language applied to the Solicitors' pro fession as well as to every trade in the country, and it was their duty to see that every able- bodied person served his King and Country in this crisis. There was practically little difference between Lord Wimborne's Scheme and that of Lord Derby, save that Lord Derby's stipulated that the unmarried men should go first. That was better undoubtedly for the nation, and he did not think it would be long before Lord Derby's Scheme in that respect was adopted in Ireland. As to the third part of the resolution, he wished to make a slight amendment, so that the motion would read— 'who by reason of age or unfitness are un- ' able to serve their country should continue ' to loyally preserve for those members who 'have joined the service or joined the Army ' under the Scheme, their business and appoint- ' ments during such service." He thought such

would be better to adjourn it until after the War, as there would be no legislation of the kind in the meantime. There was a division on the Council in reference to the matter, and let it be adjourned until such time as there would be a probability of legislation. Mr. JAMES BRADY : I agree with the suggestion. The matter was allowed to stand over for future consideration. Mr. A. LANE JOYNT in accordance with notice, moved that :— " The Incorporated Law Society of Ireland " desire to record their deep appreciation of " the patriotic action of those members of the " Solicitors' profession and of those Appren- " tices and assistants to Solicitors who have " joined His Majesty's forces up to this date. " And the Society are of opinion that it is now " the duty of all Solicitors and their Appren- " tices to further Lord Derby's Scheme of " recruiting by all means in their power ; and " that the members of the profession, who, by " reason of age or unfitness are unable to serve " their country, should loyally unite in pre- " serving for those members who have joined " the services or joined the Army under the " Scheme, their business and appointments " during such service, so that on their return " they will not be prejudiced by having in the '' hour of their country's need done their duty." He said that after the tribute which the President and the Vice-President had paid to the men who had loyally gone out to fight their battles in Gallipoli and elsewhere, it did not require any words of his to bring home to their minds the noble way in which they had done their duty. He was rather loath to join the first part of the motion with the latter part, but it suggested itself to him that if he did not he would be in some way not recog nizing the noble way in which mem bers of the profession went out—some of them personal friends of his own, but all of them honoured and true friends .—and lost their lives. Consequently, he included this appreciation in the resolution. He had also joined in the resolution a slight tribute to the assistants and law clerks who had joined the colours, as well as to the Solicitors who were serving their King and Country, and who had left their homes, and, in many cases,