BURDEN BORNE BY ACCOUNTANTS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23849, 19 January 1943, Page 6

BURDEN BORNE BY ACCOUNTANTS

CASE BEFORE MANPOWER COMMITTEE

The submission that the accountancy profession was carrying a considerable burden to-day, with principals of firms working as much as 60 and 70 hours a week, was made by Mr A. C. Brassington during the hearing of a case before the Industrial Manpower Committee yesterday. The case was a joint appeal by Miss N. C. Pirrit and Mr C. C. Holland against the Manpower Officer’s decision refusing Norma Cameron Pirrit permission to terminate her employment with. the State Fire Insurance Office, Christchurch. Mr K. G. Archer (chairman) presided, with him being Mr P. J. Kelly (workers’ representative) and Mr H. Lee (employers’ representative). Holland and Kerr, public accountants, wanted to employ the girl, said Mr A. C. Brassington. Holland said that his partner was in the Army, and the firm was working under great difficulties. He particularly wanted help in the taxation and auditing side of the work. Miss Pirrit, while passing other subjects at the university, had failed in bookkeeping stage 3, because, Mr Holland 'said, of a lack of practical experience for the subject in her present employment.' Mr H. C. Rogers, manager of the State Fire Office, said that his instructions from Wellington were that it was Impossible to find a substitute for Miss Pirrit.. The Canterbury branch had had a hard time. There had been 21 males at the start of the war, and in spite of subsequent replacements only six were lefttwo of these being grade 111 lads; three clerks, and a temporary man, a storeman, aged 65. Mr Rogers said that on the directory were 73 accountants in Christchurch, with 73 offices, 73 telephones, typists, etc. He suggested the work might be done by about a fourth of that number by a little pooling, for war purposes. Mr Brassington, after commenting with a smile that this opened the way 'to the counter-suggestion of reform in the State Fire Office, said that the case really rested on where the staff could be used to the best advantage. He submitted that the department was using the girl in a position where her talents were not fully employed. If the war was to go on for some time, It would, also, bq better for this girl to have extra experience to enable her to take her place In the ranks of fully-qualified public accounts. If the board were not prepared to grant the application, he urged that the case be adjourned for review.

Decision was reserved. Other Cases

Other cases before the committee were dealt with as follows:

Appeal by Thelma Anderson against direction to employment with the Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Company, Ltd., at Kaiapoi.—Decision reserved. Appeal by Joyce Averlll Warman against refusal of permlssioh to terminate employment with New Zealand Glove —Appeal allowed. Appeal by Joseph Bigham against refusal of permission to leave Alloy Steel (N.Z.), Ltd.—Appeal allowed. Appeal by Paynter and Hamilton, through A. Paynter. against direction of Colin Booth to employment at the Parliament Buildings.—Dismissed. Appeal by Leonard Ernest Gwlllan against refusal of permission to terminate employment with Booth, Macdonald and Company, Christchurch.—Appeal allowed. Gwlllan said that he had been a machinery Instructor in the Air Force and had been discharged through recurrence of rupture. He found the work he was doing too heavy, and could get lighter employment on Bren-gun carrier work.