ACCOUNTANTS’ SOCIETY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 27 February 1925, Page 2

ACCOUNTANTS’ SOCIETY

A VIGOROUS BODY. DONATIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. CBY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Feb. 27. The.first convention dinner in connection with the New Zealand Society of Accountants was held, at the Empire 1.1.0 tel last night, Air. W. E. Best (president) presiding over a. gathering one hundred strong. Sir Francis Bell, (acting-Prime Minister) occupied the seat of honour at the president’s right hand. Proposing the toast of “The New Zealand Society of Accountants,” Mr. Robert Kennedy (president of the Wellington Law Society) said it would lie objected to the society, that it was endeavouring to matte accountancy a “closed profession,” but that that was not the case in any undesirable .sense' was shown by the fact that during the past few years' the society donated over 125250 in all for encouraging University education in regard to accountancy. It r was, however, the duty of the society to make accountancy a closed profession against those who were inefficient, and’ against those- who did not come with clean hands and honourable record. He hoped- the society would’ ■•always be successful in preserving a very"high standard of professional conduct amongst its members, and in securing for. them an adequate reward for the very valuable services they rendered to the community. Mr. Best, in responding, said that he thought their, profession was the only one in the Dominion that had given direct grants to encourage University education, and he hoped its interest in education would always continue. He was very proud of the fact that- whereas when the society was first incorporated only 12 per cent, of its members were qualified by examination, no less than 50 per cent, of- its members were now so qualified. That was a very great advance to make in the past i 6 years.’