EXAMINATION TEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18949, 21 February 1925, Page 10

EXAMINATION TEST.

THE BOOK-KEEPING PAPERS. OBJECTIONS OF MODERATORS. Large numbers of letters have appeared throughout, the press of New Zealand concerning the jtaper set for book-keening, stage 11., of the accountancy examination, the genera! contention of the writers being that the. paper offered no fair test of the knowledge ol the candidates. Moderators appointed by the New Zealand University to review the papers before they were printed, declined to pass them, but they were unable to secure, adequate amendment. They have now written explaining their position in the following terms: — " Our attention has been called to certain newspaper corrcsponednce on the subject of book-keeping papers of the accountancy examinations held in November last, and as our actions as moderators have been the subject of criticism, and as the whole facts have not yet been made public, we now state them. " On the papers for book-keeping, stage 11,, being submitted to us for approval, we considered that these did not, provide an adequate test. We wrote the registrar, giving reasons for our opinion, suggesting that the examiner be asked to submit amended papers. In due course the amended papers came to hand. These, while in our opinion an improvement in some respects on the papers first submitted, wore still open to objection, and we could not see our way to pass them. In order to settle the matter we suggested to the registrar that one of our number should journey to Wellington to meet the examiner in conference. A reply was received that, the examiner was ill and could not come from ("nristchurch. We then suggested a later date, and in •response received a wire from the registrar reading as follows: ' Cordery considers consultation useless. Vice-Chancel-lor instructs me print papers.—Norris,' "We thereupon returned the papers to the registrar, making it clear that we had not endorsed them and took 110 responsibility whatsoever for them. " Our next step was to tender our resignations as moderators, and to report fully to the council of the society, suggesting that, publicity should be given to the fact that we, had not passed these papers. The council, however, desired us not to press our request for publication of our position. We agreed to this in the meantime, reserving to ourselves the right to make the full facts public if occasion should arise. In view of the newspaper correspondence, the eouned has now withdrawn their request that we should refrain from making the position public. " We do not consider we are called upon to enter into any discussion in the public press on the suitability or otherwise of the examination papers. Our report on that matter has been presented to the boclv entitled to receive it—the council of the Society of Accountants. " In our opinion the present unsatisfactory position is entirely due to the examiner's refusal of our reasonable request for a conference. We again state that we declined to pass the papers and ocrept no responsibility for them. VY. McCulloch, -L S. Butler, M. S. Spenee, (Moderators November Book-keeping and Auditing Papers)."