[STATUS OF ACCOUNTANTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 252, 25 October 1933, Page 6

[STATUS OF ACCOUNTANTS.

NEW PROPOSAL DEFENDED. (To tie Editor.) • I have read with interest the reported : remarks of Mr. A. E. Ansell regarding the clause in the Companies Bill, under which auditors who are not members of the New Zealand Society of A-ccountants, the Institute of Accountants of New Zealand and the New Zealand Accountants and Auditors' Association are to be prohibited, from auditing companies' accounts. Mr. Ansell states that there are competent accountants who are too old to sit for examinations, but I would like to make two criticisms of this statement. Firstly if these men are really competent an examination should not worry them. Secondly, is Mr. Ansell aware that men in the forties and fifties are regularly sitting for the accountancy examinations 1 It is also curious to note that Mr Ansell and his colleagues agree that some qualifications should be stipulated, but object to the qualification of membership of one of the above-mentioned three bodies. The point is what should the qualification be. The Government has selected the membership of the three leading societies in the Dominion as being the best qualification, and who can deny it? Eeference is also ma,de to the displaced accountants as "certified" accountants, and it would be interesting to know just,, what the term "certified" means. The term "accountant" is far too loosely used, and the time will undoubtedly come when membership of a recognised society will be a pre-requisite to the calling of oneself an accountant. To those who object on the gronnd of creating a monopoly, I would point out that plumbers had to secure legislative protection, and that lawyers have theirs also. KEA.