The Gazette 1974

that be to see about having the State pay in cash whenever they take over lands and we all know the vast powers they enjoy in acquiring properties com- pulsorily. I cannot close this address without offering thanks and to so many. First of all as I have already said I thank the Society for electing me as President and I shall always cherish and value more than I can say the fact that I have occupied the Chair of my own Pro- fession thereby following in the steps of so many illustrious Irishmen of the past. In a special way I thank my two Vice-Presidents, Mr. Peter Prentice and Mr. P. C. Moore for their help and kindness all through my year of office. Indeed without them I do not know what I would have done. They "stood in" for me many times—they are great members of a good profession and I will be pardoned (I hope) if I say openly what I often said to myself, especially during the Office Reorganisation that took place this year, "Thank God for Peter". Mr. Martin Healy did such wonderful work in really running the Killarney meeting and functions that he deserves special mention. Th at the Killarney weekend was such a success last May was due very largely to Martin Healy and his wife, Collette. The adoption of the Report was proposed by Mr. Gerard Doyle and seconded by Mr. John Nash. A discussion followed in which the following matters were raised : Full disclosure of assets in balance sheet —Mr. Quen- tin Crivon objected that this had not been done and Mr. Prentice assured him this would be done in future. Four Courts Hotel —It was suggested that this could be taken over as additional accommodation for the Society, but Mr. Prentice explained the difficulties in- volved. The King's Hospital —Mrs. Virginia Doyle-Rochford asked what was happening to this building, and criticised the Council for not giving more information. Mr. P. G. Moore, replying, stated that the King's Hospital was a most valuable asset, and that there were great educational opportunities in the premises. Mr. Golm Price stated that members should be given an opportunity of discussing the matter, and that members should be circularised about the developments occurr- ing. Mr. Crivon suggested that the Council should submit a Report to the members at the next Ordinary General Meeting. Mr. Prentice, replying stated that the original estimate to effect repairs to make the place habitable was £450,000. Even as it was, the premises were now worth £50,000 more than when they had bought it. New assistant solicitors —Mr. Grivon expressed alarm at the fact that~the average newly qualified solicitor had no practical experience though expecting a high salary, and the President promised that this matter would be looked into. The President replied to the various points raised. The motion for the adoption of the Report was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. Thursday, 28 November 1974 was appointed as the date of the next Annual General Meeting. Mr. T. D. McLoughlin then moved that the Senior Vice-President take the chair. Mr. Peter Prentice took the chair and Mr. T. D. McLoughlin proposed a vote of thanks to the President for his distinguished services to the Society during his year of office. Mr. Prentice, Vice-President, associated himself with the motion, which was then put to the meeting, and carried un- animously. The meeting then terminated.

thank most sincerely and most profoundly Mr. Plunkett for his wonderful services to all of us and indeed to this country as a whole. He was known and beloved internationally and in my trips abroad during the past year to hear so many distinguished people speak with such esteem and indeed affection of Eric. We will all be in his debt forever. Happily, he continues in the capacity of part-time consultant. I wish him and Mrs. Plunkett many years of happy retirement. The Society has been lucky to obtain Mr. James J. Ivers to succeed him, who is now Director-General, Secretary, and Re- gistrar in this Society. He has had a wonderful record in the national and other services and though his is as yet only a short time with us he has already dispalyed such remakarble ability, industry, kindness and con- sideration that I have not the slightest doubt but that under Mr. Ivers' Direction, our Profession will progress a nd achieve a place and a greatness that it deserves. }Ve wish him every possible success and co-operation J n what is by no means an easy job. I am hoping that in the not too far distant future Important Judges and Officials of the E.E.C. will be invited to Ireland and that our Society will provide f°r them all that is desirable in the way of entertain- ment and welcome. I have had many kind and helpful things done me by a U of the Society's Staff and I am most grateful to them. Permit me to mention particularly (though by no means exclusively) Mr. Patrick Cafferkey who since bis appointment during the year as an Assistant Secre- tory has done his work most thoroughly, Mr. Colum Gavan-Duffy the Librarian, Miss Patricia McNama ra ^lso Miss Rosemary Dunne, Mr. and Mrs. Willie G'Reilly and Mr. Jack Fitzpatrick. I thank them and a ll who did so much to make my year of office the success I trust it has been. I refer with deep regret to the following members w h o have died since this time last year and in each c a s e I offer deep sympathy to their relatives : John R. Lawson, Dublin; Henry V. Lynam, Dublin; fnomas M .A. Lynch, Ennis; Peter J .Flynn, Dublin; Mrs. Dorothea M. O'Reilly, Dublin; Thomas Reilly, Glonmel; Patrick T. J. Mulligan, Ballina; William McFerran, Dublin; John J. Hannan, Dublin; Francis J- Gannon, Mohill; Thomas E. O'Donnell, Limerick; John F. Goold, Macroom. In conclusion I am indebted to my colleagues on the Council many of whom represented me, often at short n °tice, at gatherings which I could not attend per- ^nally, and in a special way my thanks are due to the ast Presidents on the Council whose advice was a 'ways forthcoming and in this regard I owe particular r y ^ 1 t o m y friend and immediate predecessor, James O Donovan, whom I could almost call my "Mentor" a u through the year. Pa yment in Land Bonds t should like to take this opportunity of referring ? a grievance of both the public and solicitors and bat is the practice of paying for land taken by the • a n ( I Commission in Land Bonds. This to my mind ls c °ntrary to natural justice. Surely if we are to pre- serve the right of private property in Ireland the a t e should give a lead and pay in cash for any lands , R e q u i r e . I have seen people being deprived of their oldings of land and on realising the Land Bonds \ a slow process usually) receive only three-fourths of e purchase money which is a situation that is in- f e r a b le in any civilized community. I trust those le f remarks of mine will perhaps influence the powers