The Gazette 1964/67

THE SOCIETY OF YOUNG SOLICITORS A meeting was held in BuswelFs Hotel on Thursday, 30th June, when Mr. Myles P. Gavagan, Chief Examiner in the Land Commis sion, delivered a very interesting and illuminating paper on the Land Commission. Mr. Gavagan outlined the practice and procedue in the Land Commission with a view to giving a clear picture to solicitors as to how to deal with Land Com mission transactions. The meeting was told that the staff and officers in the Land Commission would help solicitors at all times, but solicitors were requested to have their papers in order before they presented any application to the Land Commission. The sub-committee appointed to report on the new Solicitors' Accounts Regulations, presented their report at private business on 30th June, and having been passed by the meeting, it has been circulated to members for their consider ation. All members have been earnestly requested to consider the principle of these proposed regul ations, and to vote thereon. Membership subscription of £1-1-0 and orders for transcripts of lectures should be sent to the Treasurer at 15 Braemor Park, Dublin 14. Cheques and Postal Orders should be in favour of the Society. The membership year 1965-66 terminates on the 30th September 1966. At the last ordinary meeting held in Buswells Hotel on 28th July Mr. Herman Good, B.A., LL.B., solicitor, delivered a very informative and enjoyable lecture on Criminal Legal Practice, which was followed by a lively and interesting discussion. There will be no lecture in August. The next lecture will be on the subject of Accounts Systems by an accountant which will be held in Buswells Hotel on Thursday, 29th September. The attention of solicitors is drawn to the notice appearing elsewhere in the GAZETTE about the forthcoming joint seminar, this is the second venture of this kind, the first was held in Mullingar on 26th and 27th March 1966 and was very successful. The attendance was such that hotels within a radius of ten miles were filled. It is anticipated that there will be an attendance of between 300 and 400 at Cork, accommodation has been arran ged for about 200 as it is anticipated that there will be a local attendance of about 80. Early bookings will facilitate Mr. D. Moloney of 44 South Mall, Cork, in getting people suitably accommodated and arranging for extra accommo- 31

dation as required. Bookings open on 1st Septem ber 1966. HOUSE AGENTS' FEES INVESTIGATION The President of the Board of Trade stated in a written parliamentary reply that he proposes to ask the Monopolies Commission to investigate the arrangements whereby estate agents and others charge commission at standard rates for services in selling and leasing house property. The Government are empowered by the Mon opolies and Mergers Act, 1965 to enable the Commission to investigate restrictive arrangements in the provision of services. This is the first major reference under those powers. Such a reference does not prejudge the question whether the matter to be investigated is contrary to the public interest. It is for the Commission to report when they have established the facts. The comment of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors was that estate agency was not a monopoly. Their spokesman stated that agents did much abortive work; many buyers, for instance, failed to raise sufficient capital to complete the sale. The scale was far lower than most in America and on the Continent. Bona fide estate agents had nothing to fear and nothing to hide from the Commission. The Institution would submit evidence to the Commission— London Times, 25/6/66. SCALE OF MINIMUM FEES OF COUNSEL FOR CONVEYANCING AND ADVICE ON TITLE (1) Advising on title, requisitions and deed and directing searches : Where the consideration is under £1,000 .............................. £770 between £1,000 and £2,000 ............ £990 between £2,000 and £3,000 ............ £12 12 0 between £3,000 and £4,000 ............ £15 15 0 between £4,000 and £7,000 ............ £21 0 0 between £7,000 and £10,000 ......... £26 5 0 exceeds £10,000 : £1-1-0 per additional £1,000. (2) Advising on title, settling requisitions and directing searches (without settling deed) : deduct £2-2-0. (3) Where counsel is required to give further advice on any point arising from the requisitions on title or replies thereto or otherwise : £4-4-0. (4) Advising vendor on title and settling con tract or conditions of sale : the scale set out at (1) above shall apply.