The Gazette 1911-12

The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

[DECEMBER, 1911

58

of the County Courts throughout Ireland, has not become law. It has sometimes been said that we solicitors are opposed to reform in procedure. Here we have proposed the reform ourselves, but have been met by persistent opposition. We have not referred in our Report to our duties in connection with the rule-making authority, because no rules of any great moment to solicitors have been passed during the year. I may say, however, that I attended meetings of the judges several times, and in the few unim portant rules which were passed I looked after your interests. I found all His Majesty's judges most willing to listen to what I had to say on behalf of our profession. You will see by Paragraph 8 of our Report that our differences with the Local Government Board have not yet been settled. I do not desire to dwell much on this matter at present, because only on Wednesday last I had an interview with the Vice-President of the Board, and I am in hopes that some, at all events, of our views may meet with accept ance. I will, however, say this—it would be the greatest possible mistake, in the interest of the public and the profession, to try and cut down solicitors' fees below a fair remun eration for their work. We have now in Ireland a body of solicitors, men of educa tion, ability, and rectitude, who compare favourably with any other similar body, but if the fees of solicitors are cut. down so low as to prevent them earning a reasonable pro fessional income, the public will no longer have men of like stamp joining the ranks of solicitors, and this will react most seriously against the interests of the country. (Ap plause.) You will see that a reform in the mode of dealing with Government Securities, which this Society advocated for several years, has at last been adopted by the Government. In Paragraph 11 we draw attention to the decrease of agreements for sale under the Irish Land Purchase Acts entered into since the passing of the Act of 1909. We are not politicians, and we have nothing to do with the merits of the Act; but we, with all Irish men, desire to see our country prosperous and contented, and we regret the halt which has come in land purchase. When the Act of 1903 was passed we joined whole-heartedly in trying to make land purchase a success,

safeguard your interests. The year has been a memorable one, and your .Council took their part in the stirring events. First, we had the Coronation of Their Majesties the King and Queen, and your President, as your representative, at the invitation of His j Majesty, attended at Westminster Abbey for ; the ceremony of the Coronation. Then we had the visit of Their Majesties to this country, where they were received with enthusiasm by all classes. Your President, and several members of the Council, acted as Vice-Presidents or members of the Council of the Citizens' Reception Committee, which did so much to make Their Majesties' visit a success. The Council, on your behalf, prepared an address of welcome to Their Majesties, and your President, with the Secretary, attended and handed it to His : Majesty. When the Association of Chambers of Commerce of the United Kingdom paid a visit to this country, your President attended at the welcome which was accorded to them ; indeed, I may say that at every event of public interest, not political, which happened during the year this Society was represented. I have now to refer to the great loss which the whole public and this Society sustained in the death of the late Lord Chancellor, Sir Samuel Walker. (Hear, hear.) He was always most friendly disposed to solicitors, and he took a great interest in this Society, and was ever ready to listen sympathetically to any representations which we had to make ! to him. (Hear, hear.) At the opening of these sittings I attended in the Court of Appeal, and on your behalf joined in the solemn and dignified tribute which was paid to his memory. To his successor, the present Lord Chancellor, I have conveyed on your behalf your keen appreciation of his qualities. He is a lawyer of great ability and learning, absolutely fair-minded, and full of sympathy for both branches of the legal profession. (Hear, hear.) He has already shown his interest in this Society by honouring your President and Council with his presence at their annual official dinner, which was held here a few nights ago. Turning to the Report, I regret that the County Courts (Ireland) Bill, which was introduced in the House of Commons by a member of your Council, and which would have been a great advantage to the working