ACCOUNTANTS’ CORPORATION

Evening Star, Issue 20687, 9 January 1931, Page 6

ACCOUNTANTS’ CORPORATION

SOCIAL EVENING

A social evening under the auspices of the Dunedin branch of the International Accountants’ Corporation was held in the Somerset Lounge of the Savoy last night, when Mr T. D. B. Paterson was m the chair and there were some twenty-five others present. The Chairman extended a hearty welcome to all present, especially Sir Charles Statham, who had been appointed an. honorary life member of the corporation. They had met to say farewell, reluctantly, to Mr T. S. Mould, who had now finished his mission in Dunedin; but he was pleased to say that the membership had been increased by 50 per cent., and he was sure that if Mr Mould could have remained a month longer the membership would havo reached the threcfigurc mark. Members appreciated what Mr Mould had done. They were a young body that needed wakening up. and Mr Mould had done it, and it behoved them all to put their shoulders to the wheel to keep it going. He was quite certain that the corporation had. a great future before it. Mr Mould said there were a feu things ho wished to mention before he left Dunqdin, and one was the recognition they were likely to get as members of the corporation. That rested largely with themselves, and there was open to them all possible x-ecognition if they simply displayed that loyalty and enthusiasm which he had seen up to the present, and earned on until their membership assumed proportions that was worthy of a city like Dunedin. Another point he wished to make was that the institute was of vital importance to every accountant who at the present time did not possess a recognised status. The accountant in i\ew Zealand at the present time was prohibited from doing certain things, and if certain powers had their way they would also be prohibited from doing other things, until the time would come when their calling would bo in jeopardy. There were in the dominion at the present time hundreds and hundreds of very capable accountants with long and mature experience, but they could not turn back the hands of Father Time and become young once more and “swat” and sit for examinations. Not that the corporation did not have duo regard for examinations. It had. But it had greater, regard for practical experience, which in its opinion was far more reliable than theoretical knowledge. The corporation considered that an accountant who had had ten. fifteen, twenty, or more years’ experience in the hard commercial world had been tried and proved, otherwise he would not be in such a position; and those men were worthy of recognition. He therefore appealed to all members to support the corporation and its indefatigable registrar, Mr Booth. Sir Charles Statham said that he was glad to see that the corporation was an international body, because, being international, it made for a better understanding among people of the different countries in which the institution was established. It was always something to help to establish friendly relations among peoples of the earth. Another thing was that they lived to learn, and the fact that the institute was extending its activities in other countries meant that as an institute it was acquiring knowledge which must of necessity be useful, to members of the institute.. When he looked back over his life ho felt glad of the experiences ho had had. He found that in fils legal duties his knowledge of accountancy stood him in good stead. Ho hoped the membership would increase, and that its status would be recognised not only in this country, but in all other countries, _ and they could rely on him to do his part to make the institute worthy of the recognition it deserved.. He thought it was working on the right lines. During the evening musical items were contributed by Misses Franklin and Ngairo Coster, and Messrs F. Benton, G.'S. Thomson, and H. Booth.