The Gazette 1952-1955

The motion was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. It was decided that an Ordinary General Meeting o f the Society should be held on 26th November, 1953 - On the motion o f Mr. Louis E. O’Dea, Dr. Counahan, Vice-President, took the Chair. Mr. O’Dea then proposed a vote o f thanks to the President for his distinguished services to the Society as President during his term o f office. The motion was carried with acclamation. The President replied and the proceedings terminated. MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL. 27TH N ovember . The President in the Chair. Also present, Messrs. Desmond R. Counahan and Gerald J. O’Donnell, Vice-Presidents, Joseph P. Tyrrell, Charles J. Downing, John J. Dundon, Maurice M. Power, Louis E . O’Dea, Peter E. O’Connell, John Maher, John R. Halpin, James R. Quirke, Dermot P. Shaw, Reginald J. Nolan, Desmond J. Mayne, Janies J. O’Connor, George G . Overend, Ralph J. Walker, Patrick R. Boyd, Joseph Barrett, Francis J. Gearty, Cornelius J . Daly, Sean O hUadhaigh, Derrick M. Martin, John J. Sheil, Niall S. Gaffney, Desmond J. Collins, John Carrigan, William J . Norman, Henry St. J. Blake, Patrick F. O’Reilly, John J. Nash, Thomas A. O’Reilly. The following was among the business trans­ acted :— Business in the Land Registry T h e Council considered on a report from a Com­ mittee a number of complaints from members about delays in the Land Registry, principally in the day to day work o f bespeaking and inspecting documents in the General Office. It was ordered that the Secretary should write to the Registrar of Titles giving a summary of the complaints received and asking him to receive a deputation from the Society. Land Commission—Payment o f Costs in Land Bonds T h e Council considered a report from a Committee concerning complaints that solicitors’ costs are reduced by payment o f costs in 4 per cent, or 3^ per cent. Land Bonds. The market value of these Bonds has dropped to 86 and below that price, and solicitors cashing the Bonds find that their costs are reduced by 14 per cent. In their

ago 1 had the pleasure to be a guest at the inaugural dinner of the latter. Great praise is due to those members o f our profession who have been active in this work. There is no agency so capable o f helping solicitors as is the local Bar Association. Nor is the benefit confined to the profession. It is equally or even more a benefit to the public. As even the work o f the Solicitors’ Benevolent Association has been worthy o f all praise. I think that we should do public honour to the men who so unselfishly devote themselves to its work, and in particular to Mr. Richard A. O’Brien its untiring Chairman. I would be impossible to say how deep is the debt o f gratitude to him and his fellow members o f all those who are so generously helped in their hour o f need. I do not want to enter here into matters o f detail. I feel however that I should refer to the difficulties occasioned by the stamp duties on the sale o f lands and houses imposed first by the Finance No. 2 Act o f 1947 and continued and amended by subsequent Finance Acts. This Society has protested on several occasions on what appears to be the unjust and heavy taxation imposed by theses Acts, but what concerns us professionally is the very defective nature o f the provisions which they contain. An example o f this is the fact that where a limited company figures upon a title it is apparently necessary for a proper investigation o f the title for the practitioner to enquire into the citizenship of every person who has been a shareholder. The complexity and possibly injustice o f this hastily drafted legislation is well known to every conveyancing lawyer, and is no credit to our legislators. In conclusion I may be permitted a personal remark. It has chanced that I have been President in this memorable year. I can never forget all the kindnesses I have received and all the help that has so generously been given to me by every member o f the Council, by all the members of the Society, and by Mr. Plunkett. I should like to close these these brief remarks by some expression however inadequate, o f my thanks.” The motion for the adoption o f the report was carried unanimously. Mr. Joseph Barrett proposed and Mr. Patrick- R. Boyd seconded the following motion :— “ That the following members o f the Society be appointed as the Society’s representatives on the Nomination Committee for the Cultural and Educational Panel pursuant to the' Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Act, 1947, Section 22 :—Arthur Cox, Francis. J. Gearty, Patrick F. O’Reilly, James R. Quirke, John J. Sheil,”

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