N.Z. SOCIETY OF ACCOUNTANTS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19862, 25 February 1930, Page 12

N.Z. SOCIETY OF ACCOUNTANTS.

SECOND CONVENTION. TWENTY-FIRST ANNIVERSARY. [Contributed.] In common with all other professions tho accountants of New Zealand are learning of the necessity of more or fess frequent conferences in order to discuss important matters in connexion with their profession, and to give members an opportunity for interchange of ideas on modern methods and practice. In Wellington to-day will bo opened the second convention of the New Zealand Society of Accountants, which will be attended by the leading accountants from all parts of tho Dominion. The convention is also being held to celebrate the twenty-hrst anniversary of the Society. Although the society has been in existence for twenty-one years only, accountancy was recognised earlier than that date. The first recognition of the profession of accountancy m the Dominion occurred in 1894 when the Incorporated Institute of Accountants was formed with headquarters at Wellington. In Der cember, 1898, the New Zealand Accountants' and Auditors' Association with headquarters at Auckland, was formed. In 1908 the New Zealand Society of Accountants Act was passed and immediately after the passing of this Act the usual procedure in regard to the formation of the New Zealand Society of Accountants was put in train. Eegistratlon Board Appointed. Under the Act a Registration Hoard was appointed, and March 31st, 1909, was the date up to which they would receive applications for admission .to the society, and at that date 2311-- applications were lodged with the Board. The'•Foard then commenced as part of their duties to "Consider and determine all applications made to it for regis4 tration." • . The approximate membership at March 31st, 1909, of the Institute of Accountants and Accountants' and Auditors'' Association was 500, and these members were entitled to admission to the society under Section 7 (a) of their Act, leaving some 1800 applications which the Registration Board had to deal with and determine if the applicants had qualifications entitling them to registration. The names of the persons admitted to membership by the Registration Board were published early in September, 1909, the total being 211 G.

First Council Elected. At the same time the first council of the society was elected, and since then it can be confidently stated that the council has undertaken all the objects for which the society was established. The standing of the New Zealand Society of Accountants has been recognised by accountancy bodies throughout the .world, and it can be safely said that the Society's examination, conducted by the New Zealand University, is ' equal to that of any. other accountancy body. It has been the experience of members who have left New Zealand to take up positions in other parts of the world that the training and study undertaken by them m passing tbe ; Ntew Zealand examinations have fitted "them for positions to which thev have been appointed -and this is amply borne* out by the positions occupied in various; parts of the world by the rrtqiribera.

*; ' - GdfWinig Membership. * The membership of the society tpdq,y. is approximately 1850 and, although lower than the original membership, this niarks in reality a position of strength for the spcietj, as it, means that • many of the earlier ' ufl-; examined members are rapidly dropping out, and that the general, standard of efficiency of the membership is steadily increasing. This transition is all to the good of the profession. The percentage ot examined men now in thfe society is 57 per cent, of the total membership. This examined membership, combined with the older members who had notin the earlier days the same educational facilities, but who are mostly highlv qualified by experience, now makes for a very strong organisation. Added to this is the far greater recognition and appreciation given to the profession by the community in general and by business men in particular.

In these days of keen competition in business it is more and more essential for men in all walks of life to become specialists in their particular line, and, though examinations may not always bo the final test of efficiency, the man who, all things being equal, has taken up such a course of study and training as set out in tho Society's Syllabus, must, of necessity, bo better qualified to carry out the duties which devolve upon him. No profession or trado is overcrowded in the sense, that there is never room at the top of the ladder for those who are willing to devote themselves wholeheartedly and assiduously to their particular task in life, and to give of their very best to their profession. In this accountancy is unique, for the greater the development of industry and commerce, and the more rapid the growth of trade, the greater is the necessity and demand for efficient accountancy. It is also affected by changing conditions in commercial and industrial life, all of which call for the application of accountancy knowledge to problems of production, costing, profit-sharing, budgetry control, etc.

Government Recognition. Government recognition of the value of accountancy is also being universally tendered to the profession, and rarely is a special commission set up that docs not include a member of the Society, recent instances being the Tariif Commission, the Taxation Commission, and Commission on Samoan affairs; but perhaps most of all the most outstanding example of the recognition of accountancy is in the Public Service itself. In 1914 there were only 31 accountants qualified by examination in the Service, and in only two cases was the position of accountant hnld by. an officer qualified by examination. In 1929 there were 260 officers qualified by examination, and it is a sine qua iion that to obtain promotion in this branch of tho Service the professional qualification is essential. Further, the whole of the banks operating in the Dominion hold out special inducements to members of their staff to qualify for the banking diploma, which includes a knowledge of accountancy practice.

"Public Accountants." Members of the Sdciety who arc in ])ublic practice offer iheir services to the general pubJic, and they are the only "persons entitled to use the term "Public Accountant" —a terra protooted bv Act of Parliament, and vlikli acts' as a safeguard to the public.