ACCOUNTANTS MEET

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 151, 23 March 1945, Page 3

ACCOUNTANTS MEET

Interest In Research , An attendance of 50 at the annual meeting of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand .Society of .Accountants this week was the largest for many years. Air, D. A. F. Crombie, who presided, said that the branch must congratulate tho Wellington Accountant Students’ Society for its most successful and useful year. The students were giving keen attention to cost-accounting, of which the importance was increasing from year to year. Air. W. Appleton advised members to concentrate on tlie requirements of a good director. He said the practice of appointing accountants as directors of companies was growing. From his own observation he'maintained that accountants made the best directors. “A matter which has come somewhat constantly before my notice during the past year and should give us all cause for concern,” sakl Air. Crombie, “is the ever-increasing number of temptations put in the way of the business community to evade this or that regulation or statutory obligation, to countenance halftruths and —sliall 1 say?—'partial’ irregularities in this or that obligatory return and generally, in scores of ways, to avoid what many may consider the unjust incidence of what is the law of the land. “As members of a profession which has as one of its fundamentals that what we say is correct, is above suspicion, that what we certify is true, let us stead--fustly set ourselfes against the acceptance of questionable practices such as I have indicated. In doing so, we are our own best advertisement, a body of citizens whom all can respect and one. which can be of inestimable assistance in conducting the affairs of our country fairly and honestly.”

The working of the co-operative eonimereial rehabilitation centre in Wellington, which includes representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, Acountants’Society, and other bodies, was fully reported on by the centre’s secretary, Mr, M. J. Mason. Air. F. Baker, director of rehabilitation, who also addressed the meeting, said the department was very interested in the establishment of these centres, on the lines of the one set up in Wellington. Such centres had the goodwill of the department, which looked to them for valuable advice and assistance. - The department was considering a scheme to assist men by way of subsidies in their careers with commercial firms.

Several speakers emphasized the need of the utmost encouragement of provision for research facilities. A resolution instructed the incoming committee to give attention to this matter. The meeting also recommended that improved library facilities should be made available. The new executive was elected as follows :—Messrs. F. H. Harris (ehairman), F. H. Bass, W. H. Nankervis, C. J. Brown, D. A. F. Crombie, H. R. Cook, G. J. J. Feil. R. A. F. Lawrenson, W. G. Rodger, and I J . A. Taylor (secretary). Air. E. W. A. Kellow was reappointed auditor.