MORE ACCOUNTANTS

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 46, 23 February 1934, Page 4

MORE ACCOUNTANTS

AN .EXPANDING FIELD PROFESSION NOT OVERDONE 'Si »" ■ -..-■; > Cpmnlenting on' the Increase in the membership.of the New Zoalatfd Society of,- Accountants during the.-;past year, in the cojirseof his remarkiafcthe annnal meeting;^';the'society lastVeyening^'the president/Mr. Heidij ■ entertained no grave fear that there was a' danger of the _ profession.., being " py.erdone. ". ■■"■ The net increase of 60 In fhe membership, was the largest recorded for many^y-ears^'and the present total of 1904 members was the highest reached since 1914, said Mr. Heid. In the second place the admissions by examination during the year were 141. A perusal of past reports showed that this constituted' a- record, by a substantial margin, over any other year since the present system of examinations was inaugurated. It was attribut.able largely to the progressive ingrease, in tho number of candidates presenting themselves annually for examination. In November last the examination, entrants reached no less a total "than 3372—an increase of 354 over, 1932 and of 536 over 1931; while '179 candidates completed the fullcoursa at the examination and would be eligible for membership during the current year SOCIETY'S POLICT. .'.'What; is the significance of these figures?" asked Mr. Eeid.' "To some they-may suggest that' the accountancy profession is in. daiiger of being overdone. For my part I entertain no grave fears'on that.; account/ as I believe the expanding field of activity open to the accountant is still wide enough to absorb all 'competent qualified men. The, true explanation is, I think, that the; society's" ''-policy of steadily; promoting .and "encouraging higher commercial education is bearing abu3idant;-fruit;amongsfc the largo army of youngnieri and women who annually find employment in commercial pursuits. The cumulative effect upon the stands ard of work and performance in the commercial life of the community must indeed bfl good, and I think the figures quoted supply- a complete answer 'to those- who" have endeavoured on occasions to'raise the bogy that the aim of the society is to create a 'close corporation. 'V -.-