A NEW ORDER

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1937, Page 4

A NEW ORDER

LEGISLATIVE ACTS

ACCOUNTANTS AFFECTED

As a result of tho amended legislation passed by Parliament last session, public accountants, for the first time in the history of the society, found themselves compelled to arrange industrial agreements and awards with their employees, said Mr. C. H. Wynyard in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Society of Accountants last night.

When the amending I.C. and A. Act was discussed by the council, he said, a majority of that body felt that as the society represented both employers and employees it could take no active part in furthering the interests of one section' Of members against • another section. A fund, however, was set aside for the purpose of meeting expenses in connection with the bringing together of public accountant employers and employees for the purpose of settling an agreement or code to comply with the new legislation. As far as he. knew the relationship between public accountants generally and their employees had been good and in keeping with ■ the best traditions of any profession. It was a matter for regret that the legislation had been applied to a profession where such coercive measures were unnecessary.

The Government realised that the provisions of the Act relating to a basic wage order operated harshly on those employees who were more or less trainees, and at the close of the session, -made provision for the approval by the Minister of Labour of service agreements or apprenticeship contracts to cover employees whose training and experience did not justify the payment of the basic wage. It .was to be expected that many of the juniors in public accountants' offices would be brought under service agreements of apprenticeship contracts. INCREASED MEMBERSHIP. Mr. .Wynyard said; that the membership of the Society for the year showed an increase of 116. Ten years ago the total membership was 1799. The increase since that date (875) had been chiefly confined'to an increased number; of associates, for it was noted that while fellow public accountants increased by 26, fellow registered accountants decreased by 151. The council had given some consideration to the question of the neglect of members to apply for transfers of status. It was true that a transfer of status involved the payment of certain fees, but it was felt that this small sacrifice should not outweigh the obligations which members owed to the society in the general commercial community.

In the examinations there was again a fair average percentage of passes. The total number completing the examinations (190) showed a decrease of 31 when compared with last, year's figures. . Commenting on the financial position, the president said that the year closed with an excess of income over expenditure of £1540. This was the largest excess which had been shown in the accounts of the society for some years. He was hopeful that the council would be able to establish a special research or central library, where works and publications of an advanced nature would be available to members. Branch libraries would continue to function, but would house only general standard books of reference, leaving the central library, to carry, .special, publications, rand .reference books. ': ' ' V ;t'^: '«(• " The'"; following councillors: ;?Jwere elected:—Messrs. D. H. Steen (Auckland), C. H. Wynyard (Taranak'i), W. Hamilton Irvine (Poverty Bay), J. Mawson Stewart (Canterbury'), 'W. "R. Brown (Otago), and F. H. Bass (Wellington). Mr. E. W. A. Kellow was re-elected auditor. , _.