The Gazette 1918-19

1! 1J

[DECEMBER,

The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

34

Since then Mr. Justice O'Connor has received the further distinction of being promoted to the high position of Lord Justice of Appeal. He felt sure they would all wish to join with him in congratulating their former colleague upon having attained the high judicial position which he now adorned. Under the recent Representation of the People Act the duties formerly performed by revising barristers have devolved upon the Clerks of the Crown and Peace, all of whom were Solicitors before they received their appointments. He had some personal experience in the conduct of the Revision Courts, and he could say without hesitation that the Clerks of the Crown and Peace, at the revision which took place this year, discharged their highly important judicial duties in a manner which entitled them to the greatest credit and the thanks of the profession and the public. He thought that all of them would admit that the Council had justified the trust placed in them during the year to forward the interests of the profession. One of the first acts of the Council was to secure the appoint ment of a third Taxing Master, thus remedy ing a grievance which had become acute. They also succeeded, with the full con currence of the Lord Chancellor and the Judges, in having Solicitors' costs increased, generally speaking, by 25 per cent, for the period of the war, and for six months after, in order to compensate Solicitors for the enormously increased establishment expenses which they had to pay owing to war conditions. This increased scale of costs would be payable for six months after the date which was hereafter to be fixed as the actual termination of the war. The Council had during the year sought to encourage closer association between the Council and the Sessional Bar Associations, and he trusted that this movement might result in an advant age to the profession, and particularly to those members who practised in the country. They would all join with him in expressing deep regret at the death of Mr. William Guest Lane, who was for many years one of the Southern Law Association representatives on the Council, and President of that Association ; and of Mr. John L. McDonnell, who was for some time a representative of the Northern Law Society on the Council.

Irish soldiers, defeated the flower of the German Army, the most powerful and fully- equipped army that ever took the field, at the ever-memorable battle of Mons, and thus averted the greatest disaster in history, was an Irishman, Lord French of Ypres, the present Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; and Admiral Beatty, the Commander of the High Seas Fleet which saved the Empire was also an Irishman. It also was a source of gratification to them all as Solicitors that the Prime Minister, the head of the civil Government which was responsible for the conduct of the war, and who was, consequently, entitled to no small share in the glory of the victory of the Allies, although not an Irishman, was a member of their profession. Their joy in this great victory must be tempered with sorrow when they thought of those gallant sons of our country, our Empire, and our Allies, who had fallen in the war, sacrificing their lives, gloriously, no doubt, but leaving behind millions of broken-hearted parents, wives, and lovers. In the Annual Report it was stated that a very large number of solicitors and apprentices, regardless of their own welfare, joined the Colours, and, at considerable sacrifice, gallantly took their part in the war. He was sure they would agree with him that those members of the profession who had joined the Army or Navy would have a hearty reception on their return, and that the members of the Society would endorse the action of the Council in giving to those apprentices who had risked their lives every facility to enable them to become honourable and honoured members of the profession. Steps should be taken to perpetuate in a suitable manner the memory of those members of their profession and apprentices who had laid down their lives for their King and country. He commended this to the consideration of the incoming Council. He regretted to say that during the year eight solicitors and apprentices who had joined the Army sacrificed their lives. They were all proud of the seven members of their profes sion, and apprentices, who had gained distinctions for gallantry during the year. At their last meeting he had the pleasure of referring to the distinction gained by Mr. James O'Connor, formerly a Solicitor, who subsequently became a member of the Bar, and was elevated to the Judicial Bench.