MEETINGS OF LAW ASSOCIATIONS. At the annual meeting of Hastings County Law Association the following officers were elected for 1908: Hon. President-John Parker Thomas, K.C. Vice-President-E. J. Butler. Treasurer-W. S. Morden. Secretary-A. A. Roberts. Curator-W. C. Mikel, K.C. Librarian-Miss McRae. Auditors Messrs. P. J. M. Anderson and A. A. Roberts. Trustees F. E. O'Flynn, Stewart Masson, J. F. Wills, E. Guss Porter, K.C., W. B. Northrup, K.C. A goodly number of law books were added to the shelves of the library during the year. A committee was appointed to co-operate with the County Council in connection with the proposed building of the new wing to be added to the Court House for legal offices, library and vaults. A dinner will probably be held during the assizes to be presided over by Mr. Justice Mabee. A vote of thanks was passed to the retiring secretary, Mr. W. Jeffers Diamond. QUEBEC BAR COUNCIL. A meeting of the Council of the Bar was held at the Court House, Quebec, in December, Mr. L. E. Panneton, of Sherbrooke, general batonnier of the Bar, presiding, while Mr. A. Globensky, of Montreal, general secretary, acted in that position. Those present were:-From Montreal: Messrs. F. E. Meredith, V. Martineau, F. J. Laferty and R. Monty. From Quebec: the Hon. E. J. Flynn and Mr. P. Chaloult. From Three Rivers: Mr. J. Tessier. From Arthabaska: Mr. N. Garceau. From Bedford: Mr. G. Casey. From Ottawa: Mr. D. R. Barry. In the evning, Mr. Flynn, batonnier of the Bar of this district, entertained the delegates and the members of the Quebec Council to dinner at the Chateau Frontenac, twenty one members of the profession being present. During the banquet it was decided to organize under the name of the Bar Association of the Province of Quebec. The Hon. Mr. Flynn was elected President; Mr. L. E. Panneton, VicePresident, and Mr. F. J. Laferty, Secretary. The object of this association is to draw the members of the Bar closer together, and to defend and preserve the rights and prerogatives of the Bar of the Province of Quebec. Mr. Laferty, Secretary of this Association, was instructed to write to every council of the Bar in this province, requesting them to join the new Association, and, when the organization is completed, the first meeting for the election of officers will be held. LAW SOCIETY OF UPPER CANADA. November 21st. J. M. McIntyre, K.C., of Kingston was declared elected a Bencher by Convocation in the place of Mr. R. M. Dennistoun, resigned. George M. Clark, of Toronto, was appointed an examiner for the Law School. R. L. Borden, K.C., M.P., of the Nova Scotia Bar, appears to have passed a very satisfactory examination, and we are glad to know that he was called to the Bar of Ontario. A special committee appointed in September last to consider the subject of the system of reporting, recommended that in view of the existing contract for printing the reports, which does not expire until the 8th of December, 1910, and in view that the terms of office of the four reporters will not expire until Hilary, 1909, that it was not advisable to make any change at present. G. A. Boomer, one of the reporters, having resigned, it was decided to call for applications for the reportership. The draft trust deed providing for the investment of the fund subscribed by members of the legal profession, known as "The Christopher Robinson Memorial Fund," was approved of and the deed ordered to be executed. November 22nd. The salary of the Librarian was increased from $1,800 to $2,400 per annum. A. N. Morine, of the Nova Scotia Bar, having passed a satisfactory examination, was ordered to be called to the Bar. The following gentlemen were introduced, and called to the Bar: W. H. Gregory, A. Foulds, Jr., M. B. Peacock, J. G. Gibson, A. Clark, J. J. W. Simpson, H. C. Moore, A. H. Morine. and S. Watson. Mr. Watson gave notice of motion for the next meeting that he would move to appoint a special committee to inquire into the reporting system of the Law Society as to the present supplying and publication of the Ontario Law Reports, particularly as to the policy pursued, the delays which have occurred in publication, and whether changes might not be made which will lead to more satisfactory results to the members of the profession. December 6th. Mr. Boomer's resignation as reporter was accepted, and the thanks of Convocation tendered to him for his long and efficient services. Mr. Goodwin Gibson was appointed reporter in his place. The Legal Education Committee reported that graduates in the faculty of Applied Science in the University of Toronto should be admitted to the Society as students at law and articled clerks upon the same terms as graduates in Arts. LAW SOCIETY OF SASKATCHEWAN. December 19th and 20th, 1907. It was decided to establish a new series of reports to be known as the Saskatchewan Law Reports, and to include the decisions of the Supreme Court, en banc, of single Judges of the Supreme Court, and of the local Masters. Appropriation was made for the purchase of law books for libraries at Regina, Saskatoon, Arcola, Moose Jaw, and Battleford, to be paid over whenever it appears that there are local Bar Associations in these Judicial Districts, proper rooms for the books and proper provision made for the caretaking and supervision. Intermediate and final examinations will be held on the fourth Mondays of February, June and October in each year. An attempt will be made to arrange an equitable method of admitting students enrolled under the old Law Society of the Territories to the Bar of the Provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta, and as to division of fees between the Societies. The following recommendations were made to the Judges. of the Supreme Court: That the higher scale of fees should be made applicable to actions in the District Courts in which amounts exceeding $200 are involved, and that a reduction of Court fees in the interest of the public and of the profession, is imperatively demanded. The committee on examining and legislation were instructed to prepare a draft bill for the next session of the Legislative Assembly for the repeal of section 45 of the Legal Profession Act. The Benchers will meet four times each year, the dates for future meetings to be fixed by a committee. The following officers were appointed: Editor of the Reports, Alex. Ross, Regina; Examiners, W. M. Martin, Regina; T. D. Brown, Regina; Geo. E. Taylor, Moose Jaw; Solicitor, A. L. Gordon, Regina; Secretary-Treasurer, C. H. Bell, Regina. THE ONTARIO BAR ASSOCIATION. MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETINGS. 20th December, 1907. The President, Mr. A. H. Clarke, K.C., M.P., was u the chair, and the following members were also present: F. M. Field, Cobourg; Geo. F. Henderson, Ottawa; C. L. Dunbar, Guelph, and J. H. Denton, Charles Elliott, Daniel Urquhart, W. H. Ludwig and R. J. Maclennan, of Toronto. An invitation from the New York State Bar Association was laid before the meeting, asking for the appointment of a delegate and an address on the land registration systems of Ontario. The following delegates were appointed to attend the annual meeting of the sister Association in New York City, on the 24th and 25th of January, 1908, namely, F. E. Hodgins, K.C., F. P. Betts and George C. Campbell, the address to be delivered by Mr. Hodgins. Standing Committees were next elected as follows:Legislation, F. M. Field (Convener), Cobourg, G. F. Henderson. Ottawa, and Daniel Urquhart, Toronto. Legal History, F. P. Betts (Convener), London, Chas. Elliott, Toronto, and M. Houston, Chatham. Law Reform, R. J. McLaughlin, K.C. (Convener), Lindsay, J. H. Denton, Toronto, and W. C. Mikel, Belleville. Reception, F. E. Hodgins, K.C. (Convener), Toronto, Geo. C. Campbell, Toronto, and J. Parker Thomas, Belleville. Professional Ethics, M. H. Ludwig (Convener), Toronto, W. A. Boys, Barrie, and C. L. Dunbar, Guelph. The CANADIAN LAW REVIEW was named as the official organ of the Association. The Editor offered a space of fifteen pages in each monthly issue, for such matter as the Association might desire to publish, such as a record of its proceedings, discussions on law reform, etc., etc. This was accepted, and Messrs. Hodgins, Denton and Ludwig were appointed a Committee to act as associate editors. Mr. Elliott stated that the January number would contain a verbatim report of the proceedings (including papers and addresses) of the recent legal convention. A discussion took place on the best ways and means of increasing the membership. 6th January, 1908. Present: Messrs. F. E. Hodgins, K.C., R. J. McLaughlin, K.C., R. J. Maclennan, Geo. C. Campbell, Charles Elliott, and Daniel Urquhart. Moved by R. J. McLaughlin, K.C., seconded by Charles Elliott, and carried unanimously, that "Whereas, it is in the interest of the public, both for the efficiency of the service and the intelligent transaction of business, that all public offices in Ontario, where the duties require a technical knowledge of law or procedure, should be filled only by members of the legal profession. |