The Gazette 1911-12

the Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

[FEBRUARY, 1912

not anticipate any speedy legislation on this subject, because according to the papers there will be very little time for taking up such an insignificant little Bill as this. I would put it to the proposer of the original resolution that he ought to adopt the suggestion of Mr. O'Shee. We must have an inquiry of some kind to remedy matters, and what easier or better way could there be than by the appointment of a Commission by His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant ? If you put it to the present holder of the office that it would be in the interests of the public, he would speedily come to our rescue. We would have all the information for the Commission, and then let the Council put forward the Bill. They would have some thing on which to invite the Government to take this matter up next year in the interest of the profession and the public. We are unanimous after all that a remedy is neces sary, and why should we fall out over trifles ? Why should we accept this Bill as the full measure of our requirements ? If we are going to have a Bill, let us have a decent one. MR. J. M. McDOWELL :—I beg to support the motion of Mr. Craig. All the speakers are agreed that reform is necessary. Sir John Lynch suggests that the best means of securing this amendment is by inducing the Government to take up the Bill which has already been introduced into the House of Commons, and which has met its death. Mr. Brady, M.P., warned this meeting that if we content ourselves here to-day by passing a resolution asking the Government to adopt this Bill as a Government measure, there is no guarantee that they will do so. As far as I can learn from Mr. Brady's remarks it is not at all a probable thing that the Govern ment will adopt this Bill as a Government measure. The resolution of Mr. Craig is, I think, the best means of securing the end in view, because if we succeed in getting the Government to take this step of appointing a Commission to inquire into the undoubted grievances that exist, the Government would be bound, not only in honour, but because it is their duty to the community to adopt whatever report the Commission would make for the purpose of remedying these grievances. That, in my opinion, is the best course for the meeting to adopt. There-

whose presence would be very desirable at the conference. MR. W. V. SEDDALL :—I would suggest the words '' with such amendments as may be suggested " be inserted. I entirely agree with my friend Mr. Brady that, one of tht, most essential steps the Council would have to take before they could approach the Government would be to have a conference with all the interested persons, so as to be able to assure the Government that if they take up the Bill it. will be unopposed. The amendment as it stands in no way precludes the conference suggested by Mr. Shannon and others. MR. O'SHEE, M.P., said :—May T say that I am entirely in favour of the original motion, with the amendment suggested by Mr. Delany. The appointment of a Royal Commission would result in the question being put off for another ten years, but if a small Vice-Regal Commission were appointed they could report in two or three months. They could limit the number of witnesses, and could decide when they had heard sufficient evidence from all interested. They could decide to close the work of the Com mission, and draw up the report. The only difference between my position to-day and Mr. Craig's and Mr. Brady's is that I am one of the criminals, because I am one of the members who blocked the Bill of the Incor porated Law Society. The only reason I am a criminal is that 1 want more reform than either Mr. Brady or Mr. Craig. I have been told that in the County Dublin they have been hungering for the last sixteen years for County Court reform. Well, we have been hungering longer than that, and I blocked the Bill because I want, not alone reform in County Court procedure, but to have added to it reform in County Court jurisdiction, and because I do not believe in piecemeal legislation. I believe we will want a very effective Bill to bring about sufficient reform. I blocked the Bill because I thought it was only a stop-gap piece of legislation. It would not end legislation as regards County Court procedure and jurisdiction. There are many items of procedure and jurisdiction not dealt with under the Bill and which ought to be dealt with. I strongly support the original motion with the amendment suggested. MR. T. VV DELANY (Longford) :—I do