ACCOUNTANTS’ MEETING

Evening Star, Issue 14184, 8 October 1909, Page 1

ACCOUNTANTS’ MEETING

A meeting of accountants was held in the Ctamtar of Commerce rooms last evening to consider the nominations of tlrree repro sentatives to the General Council. Mr James Brown was voted to the chair, and there was a large attendance Tta Chairman said that it was an lienor to preside over the first meeting of the New Zealand Society of Accountants. One of the main reasons why he felt pleased to preside was that this was a gat taring which to a large extent carried in its fusion all grades of accountants. They bad public accountants, bank accountants, and mercantile accountants. They all belonged now to one society, and he trusted that this meeting would be a happy augury for the carrying on of the society they were all glad to see had been successfully established. Tbe society had been created by parliamentary enactment. That Bill, so far as ta could understand it at present, was a mere skeleton. The flesh aim blood would have to ta provided by the Council to be appointed for that purpose. The objects of the society primarily were: First, to raise the standard of accountancy work; second, to lift the practice of accountancy to tlie dignity of a profession; and third, to afford protection to the business public against incompetent servants. He did not think any accountant who was worth his salt engaged in public or private employment would be satisfied with regulations except such as would ensure the ia- * entity of the society and make it the efficient and valuable body which they all hoped it would become.—(Applause.) Mr Statham said that according to his reading of the Act all members who were registered were equal, and had a right to be admitted as practising accountants. Tiro Council would form regulations, but it would not make them, and that was a point that had been overlooked. This meant that the Council would have very little power at all. The whole body of registered members made the regulations. Men should be nominated from this centre who could give their time to the work.

Mr T. K. Harty caid that they should make the meeting as eoncrete as possible by nominating reprasantativas frotn Dunedin. There would be nominations from other parts. The .future of the registered accountants rested with the Council. The Council had no'power at the present time, but could “make representations to Parliament from time to time. Mr A. Johnstone Brown said that .the election of the Council was an important matter, because the Council would have in their hands the drafting of the first rules and regulations of the new society. He pointed out that while the new- board would do that it be no means followed that, such

rules and regulations would be passed, because he took it that they would be sent back agam to the vote of members as a whole,'subject to the Governor-in-Council. Mr C. F. Johnston nominated Mr Anderson (of Butterworth Bros.) as the representative of the Commercial Accountants. Mr Beadle asked if any nominations had yet been sent to Wellington. The Cliairman replied that he knew of no nominations sent from Dunedin. Mr Johnston said that Mr Anderson’s name had been sent to Wellington. The Chairman; Mr Peter Barr will be nominated to-morrow morning. Mr Statham said he had been nominated It was also stated that Mr T. S. Grahani and Mr Green (U.S.S. Company) had been nominated.

The Chairman said he knew he wonld be nominated. There wonld be a great miniber of nominations from this district, and, tliat being the case, it was well to remember that only three could be elected. Tliat being so, it was for members to consider which three men were going to conserve the interests of the district best. He asked if the meeting were prepared to come to some concrete decision in regard to three nominees. Personally, however, he failed to see what good would be accrued from any resolution they might carry.. Mr Farquliaraon said seeing that the public accountants had liad most to do with this Bill, the meeting might affirm that they slkmiM be entitled to two seat* on the Council as representing Dunedin. Mr Black hoped that they would be united in selecting their three nominees. Mr Johnston suggested that'they slwuJd form a committee to discuss different matters and advise their representatives. Mr A. Johnstone Brown said that the suggestion was a good one. It a committee were formed it could call a meeting as soon as the members of the Council were elected. They could then get their representatives together and advise them. • It was then agreed that a committee consisting of the chairman, Messrs C. F. Johnston, A. Johnstone Brown, C. H. Statham,, and J. Farquharson be appointed for the’ purpose of watching the progress of events and calling a meeting of local members when considered necessary. Tho Chairman, said he bad no doubt that good would result from the masting. He paid a special tribute to the great work done by Mr William Brown. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the president of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr D. M‘Pbensoa) lor convening the meeting. Mr M'Ptareon was unable to be prosent.