N.Z. SOCIETY OF .ACCOUNTANTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 656, 5 November 1909, Page 3

N.Z. SOCIETY OF .ACCOUNTANTS.

Sir,; —I join heartily, with the large number of members of the Now Zealand Society of Accountants in Wellington in protesting against tho barbarous system -of. voting:intt6duced, by the Registration Board'in connection-with tho election of'the council of the society. • The antiquated method adopted is 'in open defianco of the generally recognised principle of preserving the seurocy of the ballot, and must call forth tho- strongest condemnation from members of the. socicty. I think members would be perfectly justified in challenging the legality of the election,'if the socrecv or tho ballot is not maintained!'as'will assuredly be the case, if_the present method is proceeded with. l --' • ' Exception has'been taken in Wellington/to Mr. Peter Heyes, a-candidate for election on the council, acting in his capacity as a mem•bor of tho Registration Board'in connection \nth tho election. Under the circumstances I feel snre members can very well rely on" Mr. Heyes absenting himself from tho final meeting of the board when the count is being conducted. ■ • , . I am indeed surprised to-learn that Mr. Heyes has not withdrawn from the election, in viow. of the fact that he holds tho position of Commissi iner of Taxes,- and as it is generally recognised-here that the reason of Mr. A. W. Earaes, withdrawing from tho election in the. Canterbury district, is because he occupies tho position of Audit Inspector, and that the Government .disapprovc of a public servant accepting on tho council,'it is only.to bo expected that Mr. Heyes will shortly . announce his intention .of withdrawing from the election, because what'applies to Mr. flames, as uorernment Audit. inspector, would apply equally to Mr. Heyes, as Commissioner of Taxes. It' is hardly-likely that the : Governm€lS ' l nwna to "make fish of one and flesh of another.—l- am,"-etc., - ' • - . INTERESTED. Christchurch, November 3, IOU'J. . ' Sir-In reference to the remarks made by tho various candidates for the .coming election of the council, as appeared during the last few weeks m the "Mercantile Gazette": First, as regards making the future exam'nations of a so-callcd high standard, on lines similar to those in England. Why, if the future examinations are not an improvement on ™° Present year's examination held recently, tno future .society .need not expect to admit any new members by examination. The recent examination was one calculated to .block all students a f ft £ M P° ssil >ln from getting through. Why should thoso who swatted hard, at great expense in paying coaching fees and entrance iees, have to suffer for the Teason that the. New Zealand Society of Accountants admitted more than necessary ? The various societies holding examinations this year had no right to accept, or rather charge, the fee. of,£2 2s. to sit, to.gather with further fees, when it.was.their intention to hold such an examination as the last. I am.speaking of the bookkeeping. If too great a number obtained registration it should bo all v Js°f e reason why the. recent' examination should have been .similar in the past years, Tho bookkeeping was.no tesfc at-all.- < : . • Then, as regards /'matriculation," .which is absolutely unnecessary, even in years to come, say forty or fifty years, at the very least. It eeems'te-.me that tho principal agitator for the' !J}v u sioh of "matriculation/* and 1 so-called nigh^standard/' say in three years' time/can only ho a 'coach/' who is only looking to his own future. But/the student is uot goin& to wasto years of study , for tho accountancy de.gree.- There will be no .fresh candidates at iortncoming examinations if things como about as some would-be councillors would have. I would urge upon all members of the New Zealand of ■ Accountants, especially now • members by registration, to vote strictly gainst any candidate at the forthcoming election who . ls "J 11 ifl-vour of what ho calls a high' standard and the inclusion of matriculation. If the standard is required to bo . high, why.'admit so •manv through the' recent registration? The is ridiculous, and thoso who talk of high standard and matricnlation inclusion do not, in my opinion, and of a good many more,Jcnow, what they arc talking ,about. Vol» gainst any coach' who seeks election with the above end" in,view.' ', ' v • as regards^.^mitting"a)l v 'thbse who appiied for admission • nv the recent'registration is farce.; -And I' earnestly hope ■ Parliament tvill .not-allow such a. thing, to tako Pj?66 if a Bill is brought- before the .House; Might ns '.yo,ll admit the whole .of New Zear, lands clerks and, bo done. with. Another matter °' t importance: thnt ' i's: not 'bringihrf' out the syl abus earlier. It is-disgusting to keep the syllabus back so late in tho ; year 'as is niiual.'lt aoes not give a student-a chance at all. The whole .thing looks as-if the various socieb'es inf cn d QTaTv2 two • fees, out of students at the least" It ts to be hoped the new council will .frame the syllabns tor ltltO by the eiid of Da- , camber, .1009. at, the latest.—l ,am,votes., ;■ t HAItEY PEI'CH. ' Fending, October 30. ■ . ' ■