STATUS OF COMPANY SECRETARIES

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26093, 21 April 1950, Page 9

STATUS OF COMPANY SECRETARIES

RECOGNITION SOUGHT IN LEGISLATION (New Zeaiuiia t'rests. Association)

AUCKLAND. April 20. The hope that provision would be made in the New Zealand Companies Act compelling every company to have a secretary, and giving official recognition to the office of secretary, was again expressed by Mr F. H. Bass, president of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries, in his presidential address to the annual meeting of the institute last night. Mr Bass said that the English Act gave official recognition to the office of secretary, and provided that every companv must have a secretary. If this provision was adopted in the New Zealand Act it would increase the status of secretaries of companies and give added value to membership of recognised secretarial bodies. Referring to examinations, Mr Base; said that the standard was high, and it was important that this standard be maintained. But it was not too high to prevent a reasonable proportion of candidates passing after a proper period of study. The following officers were elected: president, Mr D. N. Chambers (Auckland); vice-presidents. Messrs E. W. Hunt (Wellington) and T. W. M. Ashby (Auckland); treasurer, Mr Turner Smith (Christchurch); council, Messrs F. H. Bass (Wellington), N. R. Chapman (Auckland), T. L. Hames (Auckland). A. Main (Auckland), all past presidents and E. M. Bardsley (Wellington). W. D. Douglas (Christchurch), D. A. Dale (Wellington), G. W. C. Drake (Auckland), A. C. Halligan- (Dunedin), J. Mellin g (Auckland). H. R. N. Newman (Auckland), W. G. Rodger (Wellington), N. M. Speer (Auckland), and J. L. B. Stevens (Auckland).