NEW YEAR'S MESSAGE OF SIR JAMES AIKINS, THE PRESIDENT, TO THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION. "Let byganes be byganes, Wha's huffed at anither, Dinna cloot the auld days. And the new anes thegither, Wi' a grip o' fresh freen'ship Most excellent wisdom and advice which loses none of its force by reason of its rugged dialect. Why burden the first, or any day of the new year, with vain regrets about things past and beyond recall? Or why carry the still heavier load of fears and apprehensions about a future undisclosed to us? It has been my privilege since the Armistice to be present at the unveiling of many memorials erected by grateful communities to heroic sons of Canada and there to learn that kind nature has made provision for a forgetting of the sad and painful and remembering of the unselfish, the enduring, the overcomings in the great struggle; and that as nations commemorate those incidents alone in its history which have made for its honour, so also should memory in personal history; and that the things ignoble and not creditable should be effaced and forgotten. The Canadian Bar Association has no cause of regret (save perhaps that it might have accomplished more but for apathy) no need for apprehensions, for it is well established in the goodwill and loyal hearts of the profession in Canada. It has enfolded in a spirit of warm friendship and I-C.B.R.-VOL. IV. unity (may I say national unity) the best members of all the provincial bars. It has given them the opportunity of measuring and realizing the relative worth and eminence of the profession in Canada. It is not the largest numerically of any country, but in proportion to its numbers it stands unexcelled by any in moral fibre, in erudition, in faithful performance of duties and in efficient professional and public service. All years of the Association have been good because beneficially constructive, but 1925 has been the best yet. Being deservedly popular, its membership has increased, notably Ontario and Quebec. There has been a conspicuous addition of 360 new subscribers to the CANADian Bar Review, which is a tribute to our magazine, its editor and managing committee. The first conference of Benchers and of governing bodies of official law and Bar councils and societies met on the 25th of August, at our Annual Meeting, had useful discussion and resolved on organizing a permanent conference. This is a practical movement full of hope. Steps have been taken to forward the work of the conference of Commissioners on Uniformity of Business Legislation in Canada. A very important report recommending improvements in criminal law and its administration was adopted. The Annual Meeting also accepted the report dealing with the administration of justice and recommending improvements particularly affecting the Petition of Right. The Association, through its committee of legal education, is continuing with success its effort to raise the standard of requirements for admission to the profession. In finance its balance is on the right side of the Association's ledger. Through the efforts and industry of its members it is steadily accomplishing the objects for which it was brought into being. In order to have them in mind, the members should frequently repeat them (I will not say as we do our catechism) and whe.ever opportunity offers, endeavour to advance them. If the opportunities do not present themselves, let us make them, and all co-operate in the building of our temple in which all may assemble and unite to promote our high calling and advance Canada. Most cordially will all our members commend those of our profession who, of whatever party, at the federal election, offered their service to the constituencies. In my last Annual address, I said:— "Contiguous to the field of our primary professional activities is another, for the most part poorly tenanted (and therein lies peril to the people), the field of public office and of politics. For work in that field, whether it be small or large, municipal or national, the lawyer is well equipped. Knowledge of the law and its prac |