SECRETARIES' INSTITUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20518, 20 March 1930, Page 15

SECRETARIES' INSTITUTE.

ROYAL CHARTER PROPOSED.

LOCAL MEMBERS APPROVE.

A proposal to seek a Royal Charter for the Australasian Institute of Secretaries was unanimously approved by members of the New Zealand division of that body at a luncheon-meeting held yesterday. About 25 members were present. * Mr. G. W. Hutchison, chairman of the division, who presided, said the economic changes now in progress affected not only industry and commerce, but the professions as well. The present was an era of acute ' specialisation, and a professional secretary must fit himself by research and study to assist his principals in meeting the changed conditions of business. It was necessary for the secretary of a company to know more about its affairs than the directors, and to be a reliable source of information for them upon all details of its operations. So soon as he lagged behind the board would inevitably lose confidence in him.

'l'fie institute, according to the latest return, had 1957 members, said Mr. Hutchison. Of these 144 were resident in New Zealand, 92 being fellows and 52 associates. The membership was spread all over the Dominion, and was steadily growing. A good type of candidate entered for the annual examinations, and the percentage of passes was about the same as in examinations held by other professional bodies, showing that the standard set was sufficiently high. A Royal Charter had been considered by the last biennial conference, which decided to ask the divisions for instructions. A former officer of the institute, who had made inquiries in London, had been informed by an official of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries that the latter considered its charter to be Empire-wide, leaving no room for a special Australasian body. This view, however, was not regarded as final. He had obtained a preliminary opinion from a London firm of solicitors, to the effect that there should be a good prospect of obtaining a charter, although some opposition might be offered by other interested organisations. The solicitors considered that under the now status of the Dominions, such an application should be regarded as a high compliment to Great Britain and a link of Empire. Mr. Hutchison remarked that under the charter provision should be made to meet any special conditions obtaining in New Zealand. Moreover, the name ( of the institute should be changed to "the Chartered Institute of Secretaries of Australia and New Zealand." < On the motion of Mr. Hutchison, seconded by Mr. G. O'Halloran, it was resolved that the proposal be approved and that the council of the New Zealand division be recommended to submit sncli conditions as might be necessary to conserve the interests of New Zealand members.