GROWING SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 130, 26 February 1937, Page 12

GROWING SOCIETY

New Zealand Accountants

MORE FELLOWS WANTED

Increased membership and a sound financial position were reported to the members of the New Zealand Society of Accountants by the president, Mr. C. H. Wynyard, at the annual meeting of the society last night.

The president said the membership for the year showed an increase of 116. Ten years before it had stood at 1799, and since then had increased by 875, the increase being confined chiefly to associates. While fellow public accountants had increased by 26. fellow registered accountants decreased by 151. There were many members who were fully qualified for transfer in status, but for some reason showed no inclination toward becoming fellows of the society. The standing of any society was judged by the number of its fellows and it was the duty of ail members to see that the society maintained the highest possible percentage of fellowship members. The examinations again showed a fair average percentage of passes being obtained by candidates. The inference to be drawn from the figures relative to the examinations was that quite a number of candidates used the examinations for furthering their commercial education without definite desire to become members of the society.

The year closed with an excess of income over expenditure of £1540, the largest excess for some years. The benevolent fund was in a healthy condition.

For some time past the council of the society had been endeavouring to reach a reciprocal arrangement with the Chartered Institute of Australia. In consummation of the negotiations Which had been taking place, the meeting would be asked to alter a regulation to recognise reciprocal arrangements with two important Australian accountancy bodies and to approve of the suggestion to add the London Society of Certified Accountants to the regulation. ■ Negotiations for a reciprocal arrangement with the South African Institute had been opened. During the year sub-committees of the society and the New Zealand Law Society had commenced work in collaboration on the redrafting of the solicitors’ trust audit regulations, said Mr, Wynyard. A sub-conunittee of the society’s council had been at work and suggested amendments to the statutes governing the source of land and income tax. The report of the committee would be considered by the council at to-day’s meeting. The election of Mr. F. 11. Bass, Wellington, to the council was announced. The following councils were declared elected unopposed :—Auckland, Mr. D. H. Steen; Taranaki, Mr. C. H. Wynyard; Poverty Bay, Mr. W. Hamilton Irvine; Canterbury, Mr. J. Mawson Stewart; Otago, Mr. W. R. Brown. Mr. E. W. A. Kellow was declared re-elected auditor for the ensuing year. The motions enabling reciprocity with the outside accountancy bodies mentioned by the president were passed.