The Gazette 1958-61

the opinion that there was an implied personal undertaking by member to see that the surgeon's fee is paid. Registry of Deeds A committee reported that a deputation had attended at the Department of Justice to submit proposals in favour of the introduction of legislation on the lines of the Registry of Deeds (Amendment) Northern Ireland Act 1957. That statute made provision inter alia for the following matters : (a) persons who authenticate the seal of a body corporate are deemed witnesses for registration purposes, (b) swearing of affidavits for registration purposes, (f) paper and writing authorised for registration purposes ; parchment has been abolished, (d) uniform registration fee on memorial, (e) transcripts of memorials no longer required, (f) duplicate negative searches, (j) remedy for breach of statutory duty by registry officials, and generally bringing the conditions of the registry into line with modern conditions. The deputation were informed that the Minister is in favour of the proposals and hoped subject to Government approval to introduce legislation when parliamentary time permits. Stamp Office Delays Complaints of delays in the Stamp Office were referred to the Dublin Solicitors' Bar Association for report. Increase in Land Commission Costs. In May, 1956 a memorandum was submitted by the Council to the Irish Land Commission in support of an application for a general increase in the scales of professional costs. It was pointed out that the scales of costs proposed in 1954 and increased by 25 per cent, in 1947 was completely out of accord with the general level of solicitors' office expenses and the prevailing cost of living figure. Since then representatives of the Council have attended a number of conferences with the officials in support of the case made in the memorandum. Representa tions were made to the Judicial Commissioner and personally to the Minister and several further memoranda were submitted. As the result of these submissions the Minister has now made provision under the Land Purchase Acts Rules, 1960 for a general increase of 50 per cent, in the professional charges in the schedule of fees in the appendix to the Provisional Rules dated 5th January, 1924 as amended, that is to say 50 per cent, in the present charges in respect of business

Court Offices and Costs Committee James J. O'Connor, Chairman, Francis Armstrong, Augustus Cullen, Charles J. Daly, Niall S. Gaffney, John Kelly, Brendan A. McGrath, George A. Nolan, Thomas V. O'Connor, Patrick O'Donnell, T.D., James W. O'Donovan, Dermot P. Shaw, John J. Sheil, Edward Treacy, Terence De Vere White. Legislation in Dail Eireann The Secretary reported on behalf of the Parliamen tary Committee that representations made by the committee on the Petroleum Bill, 1959 and the Apprentices Bill, 1959 had been favourably received by the Minister and that the necessary amendments had been made at the committee stage. Solicitors' offices in bank premises It was reported to the Society that a solicitor who is the son of a bank manager had established his office in the . residential portion of the bank of which his father is manager. It was submitted to the Society that this might result in the unfair attraction of business in contravention of the regulation 5 of the Professional Practice Regulations. Representations were made to the solicitor con- x earned who informed the Society that his reason for taking the particular office was that there was no other suitable office accommodation readily available. The Council took the view that it is undesirable that- a solicitor should maintain his office in a building forming part of bank premises and that this may lead to a breach of the regulations. The solicitor concerned has since obtained other office accom modation. Medical witnesses' fees. Implied personal undertaking On December i3th a member wrote to a surgeon' asking him to examine a client who had been injured in a road accident and to supply a medical report. He wrote again on December 3oth and on January 9th wrote that an appointment had been made for an examination on January lyth. The surgeon's report and account for £5 js., are both dated January lyth. On February 26th member wrote again to the surgeon stating that the case had been listed for hearing on March icth. On March 3rd the surgeon replied stating that he would attend and naming his fee 25 guineas. On March 6th member wrote stating that the hearing had been adjourned but making no reference to the surgeon's fees and on March 23rd member wrote again stating that the case would be taken on April 6th and asking the surgeon to attend. Again there was no reference to the fee. On these facts the Council expressed