ACCOUNTANCY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5669, 17 August 1905, Page 3

ACCOUNTANCY.

A PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. In his presidential address, delivered nt the annual general meeting of the New Zealand Institute of Accountants yesterday, Mr Peter Parr said he pro posed to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, Mr W, K. Holmes, and deal ■with matters that have occupied the attention of the council during the year. STUDENTS’- SOCIETIES. As usual, there had been a satisfactory list of candidates who had passed the examination set for students, and thereby had entered tho institute. It was greatly to tho credit of tho Wellington College that boys from its ranks had again all received all the three prizes offered to tho secondary schools of the colony, as they did in 1902. The samo college gained one prize in 1903, and two in 190-1. The schools in other centres should endeavour to see that this record was broken. The great success which had attended tho work of tho students societies in each of the four centres was a matter for congratulation, and tho idea which has been suggested that the institute should offer prizes to the societies in connection with the examination was likely to commend itself to the council. He was of opinion that it would bo well to connect tho present students’ examination with tho societies', and make it a means of entrance to them, instead of to the institute, granting a certificate to those who passed. It gave him great satisfaction to notice the vigour and earnestness with which tho societies' affairs had been conducted throughout the year. EXAMINATIONS. Reference had been made in last year's report to trouble which had arisen in connection with the joint uniform egaminations scheme, in which tho institute had participated with tho Australian institutes since 1900 with satisfaction. The Victorian Institute had intimated its intention of withdrawing after October. 1901, and he had expressed the hope at the last annual meeting that the joint scheme would bo continued whether Victoria seceded or not. Unfortunately, tho events of the year had not just'fied them in any longer entertaining that hope. As stated in the report, out of 186 candidates only two were successful in passing the full examination. To consider tho matter a well-attended meeting of tho council was held in Wellington on February Ist and ibid last, and at that meeting the Dunedin members were appointed a sub-committee to investigate and report to the council, and to suggest guidance for the future. That report was widely circulated. Before the sub-com-mittee got to work, Adelaide intimated that it had been arranged to hold a post examination in April in the two compulsory subjects to be open to the candidates who sat in October, and the institute was invited to join. He had no hesitation in advising the council that such a course would be inadvisable, and a unanimous decision was made to stand out. The value of the April examination was proved by the results, only two candidates out of seventy-six passing. The sub-committee in another report recommended tho council to "face tho question, of whether or not the institute should continue its connection with the joint Australasian scheme/’ Upon this reports were sent to the Australian institutes, with a letter, asking what each institute proposed to do with reference to the October examinations. The answers made it evident that there would bo no joint examinations this year, and on this it was advertised that the October examinations would.be postponed pending definite arrangements for the future. It would now bo the first duty of the Council to decide the wisest course to adopt for future examinations. The president went on to define the position taken up in regard to these examinations by the various Australian institutes, lie felt that in New Zealand they could not afford to continue connection with a system which had given rise with or without justification to such a widespread suspicion of unfair treatment, unless they were absolutely assured that there would he no repetition of the trouble. There were two courses open for them in tho future—either to have tho examination papers set in New Zealand or make arrangments with examiners in Australia or Great Britain, of which courses he favoured the latter. LEGISLATION. They were all aware that reference had been made again and again to tho desirability of legislation being obtained pro-

uling for rlic recognition oi too ■ inn of accountancv. and the protection < i I Iu- public against, incornpctcncy, or 1 corse, on i :.c part of nrofessed account- i mis ’ The first definite step in that di- ( ■crlion was taken at a council mcctii' ijf,!..i j,, i’cbninry, "lien a special ■ooiinii lee was formed to take all neces- i arv steps forilie nromiition of a hill in ' lie ilouse of Representatives for the res- ’ -(ration of account ants in New Zealand. \ conference was held in Christchurch m \lav when the whole matter was coasul- • red’ aiid a I,ill was drafted to meet as •ar a - possible, the, ideas there expressed, t - lib comuiittec teas appointed to put it I)to final shape ''ready to he launched on he slormv sea of politics.” Mr .1. A". Millar, M.11.R-agreed to take ■ harm of Hie hill, and in interviews with dial gent lonian the measure was further imended and reduced in bulk. Tho bill was -el down hv Mr .Millar for its second reading on Jn.lv 2Gth, but by the nnforliimitiTprolixity of our representatives it was blocked. If Hie bill missed, there would be ren ■■au-e for regret for if so it would in all likelihood mean the dissolution of this in- ■ titute. which they had spent twelve rears in building up, ami which had been {he rnr-m? of forming mil cementing friend-hips which were highly valued. None the less it would be tor the common -mod If obtained, they believed that it would materially help to cement those feelings of confidence and secants which were the strength of their mercantile ami commercial relationships ami it would at Hie sumo time give to the neeounlnnts of Hie future a position and a eertaintv of reward for their work which at present was to a great extent, domed. lie wished to cordially acknowledge the, hearts- support, and co-operation whicu ho lla'd received during Ids year of office f-'orn the members of .tho council, and in particular to tho vice-president, Mr Fisher, upon whom had fallen a very considerable share of tho work, and his friend nnd senior in office, Mr \vm. Brown, upon whose valued advice he had relied many times.