ENJOYABLE DINNER

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12074, 27 February 1925, Page 8

ENJOYABLE DINNER

ACCOUNTANTS CONVENTION | ' ; LARGE AND REPRESENT All VE GATHERING. ACTING-PREMIER PRESENT*. The first convention dinner in connection with the New Zealand, Society of Accountants was held at the Empire Hotel last night, Mr W. E. Best (president) presiding over a gathering some 100 strong. Sir Francis Bell (Acting-Prime Minister) occupied the seat of honour at the president’s right hand, and next to him sat Mr M. Myers, K.C. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from the Mayor (Mr R. A. Wright, M.P.), the Hons. G. J. Anderson. J. G. Coates, and R. F. Bollard, and Mr 0. P. Skerrett, K.C. The loyal toast having been duly honoured, Mr Jas. Brown (Dunedin) gave the toast “Parliament,” coupled with the name of Sir Francis Bell. Parliament, said Mr Brown, was a democratic institution, handed down to us Britishers since the old days of King John and Runnymede. We lived in a democratic age; and onr New Zealand Parliament was claimed to ba ■—and he believed! it was—the most democratic in the world, conforming to Abraham Lincoln’s great principle, “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” Though, being a human institution we could not expect it to be absolutely perfect, the remedy for any imperfections rested with the people. But for Parliament, there would he anarchy—revolution; and we ought to thank God that we had a Parliament-. He paid a high tribute to the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey), who for twelve years had held that high position, and who during the trying, the strenuous period of the Great War had rendered incalculable service to his country and to the Empire, and deserved the sincere thoifts of every ' citizen of New Zealand. (Applause.) He also spoke in eulogistic terms of Sir Francis Bell, the Eton. W. Downie Stewart, and other Ministers. (Applause.) SIR FRANCIS BELL’S SPEECH. Sir Francis. Bell, who w»s received with loud applause, said that) the Prime Minister regretted very much that ho was not able to *be present, and he (Sir Francis) was sure that they all regretted it too. (Applause.) Sir- Francis added, that he had been a member of the House of Representatives at one time, but now he Was a member of “the other place,” the members of Which, however estimable individually, were too often regarded collectively, by the people and by the press, aa elderly persons of > another sex. (Laughter.) __ He claimed, however, that-trio Legislative Council rendered -very useful work as a revising i chamber, and was an essential part of our. Parliamentary- institutions. (Applause.) He thought that the proposer of thie togst, in referring to the unanimity that existed in New Zealand during 'the 1 Great War, might have mentioned - that that unanimity was due' as much to • 6ir Joseph Ward as to Mr. Massey. (Applause.) You could not have unanimity, without agreement; and it was due to the fact that -both sideU camp together at that time, that New Zealand Was able to present ouch a‘ strong and united frontthroughout the war. (Applause.) THE SOCIETY TOASTED. Proposing the toast, “The New Zealand Society of Accountants,” Mr Robert Kennedy (president of ! the Wellington Law Society) -said that- it had'been objected-to that society that it was endeavouring to make accountancy a “closed profession.” But that • that was not the case in any undesirable sense was shown by the fact that during the past; fftv years the. society had ‘ donated over.’ £5250 in all for encouraging university education- in regard to accountancy. " (Applause.) It was, however, ths duty of the society to make accounthiflyy a closed, profession against those- who were inefficient and against those who did not come with clean hands and an honourable record. (Applause.) He hoped that 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. (Applause.)’ Mr Best,. responding to the toast, which, like the first, was drunk with musical honours, said that the Accountants’ Society had been very. fortunate in having as its first president Mr Peter'Barr, and as its first secretary Mr Ernest W. nunt. who together had succeeded in laying the foundations of their society on verv sound lines. (Applause.) It had also been very fortunate in securing as successor to Mr Hunt its present secretary, Mr D. G. Johnson, who (carried out the arduous duties of the. position rvith uniform tact, kindliness, and courtesy. (Applause.) .He thought that their profession was the only one in the Dominion that had given direct grants to encourage university education; and ho hoped that its interest in education would always continue. He was very proud of the fact that, whereas when fcho society .was first incorporated only 12’ per cent, of its members were qualified bv examination. • no less than 50 per cent, of its members were now so qualified. He thought that was a very great advance to make in the past 16 years. (Applause.) Mr C. D. Morpeth gave the toast, "Other Professions,” with particular reference to the legal profession, and coupling with it the name of Mr M. Myers, K.O. The two professions of law and accountancy, remarked Mr Morpeth, worked very amicably together, to their mutual advantage and to the great benefit of the public. (Applause.) -no toast was-drunk with enthusiasm. i AN “ELDER BROTHER’S” ADVICE. Mr Myers, in responding, said that there was one respect in which the accountants’ profession was unique in New Zealand. , It was one of the youngest of the professions so far as statutory recognition, was concerned; but it was the only’ one, so far as. he knew of in New Zealand, whos? governing body had complete disciplinary jurisdiction over its' members. . (Applause.) The profession of law had mot that power; and he knew of no other profession that had. Speaking as a member of tne older profession, the law—speaking, he might say, as an “elder brother” —he would urge them not to open the rl° or of tljeir profession themselves nor, if they could help it, allow Parliament to open it; because, and he could sneak with experience of his own profession, if once they opened the door or allowed it to be opened, they would never get it closed again. (Applause.) He thanked them for having .so specially honoured the legal profession. Mr James Morrison proposed . the tosst. “Industries and Commerce,” which was responded to by Mr Peter Barr (president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce) and Ijv M*- r - T.

Watkins (president of the Wellington 'lndustrial Association), f Mr Barr said that he had been proud to be made president of, the’Associated (Chambers of Commerce, not > so-much ' on'his own account', but because -he regarded it as an honour to his profession, accountancy. ‘ ‘He was proud to know that the secretary to the ; Associated Chambers, Mr C. M. BOwden, i was also an accountant,, and both he and Mr Bowden were - past presidents of the Society of "Accountants (Applause.) Referring to commerce and industry, he welcomed the fact that the opinion was gaining ground to-day that there Should be less Government control in regard to trade and industry, | and should have more co-operation between the Government and those interested in ’ manufactures and commerce. There was also . a distinct growth of the personal touch in trade and industry, as was instanced by the great interest taken in-that" must human book, “The Life and Work of Henfy Ford.” (.Applause.) ,He was glad, too, to note that British trade and industry were now taking theif" old place in. the world —the place that they held before the Great War. (Applause.) : NEW ZEALAND’S INDUSTRIAL | ;, . LEAPS AND BOUNDS, i Mr Watkins referred to accountants as “the sentinels of the great industrial army,” and felicitated their society on the-, great work they were doing. Speaking of the phenomenal growth of our secondary and semi-secondary ' industries, he pointed but that their output was valued in 1896 at ‘less than nine millions sterling,-but in 1923 their output Was valued at 7.3} millions (applause), while in the same period the number of hands' employed and the wages bill had grown from 27,389 to 64,000, nd from £1,907,000 to £13,686,009, respectively. (Applause). In the twelve years, 1911 to 1923, the output of these industries had increased by no less than £43,500,000. (Applause.) He contended that if they preached the gospel of using New Zealand manufactures we should employ more and more labour on our own cheap raw materials and our industrial output would before very long reach the 100 million mark. (Applause:) We had .our AB Blacks in industry as well- on the football field. (Applause.) . Ten-per cent. Srotection would so stimulate our inuptries that would attract out here the best of British workmen, to increase our industries, and our population, and greatly strengthen the defence of our country. (Applause.) - > • The last toast was “The Visitors.” proposed by Mr C. M.’ Bowden" (Wellington), and responded' to' by'Mr 'B. I. Bagnall (Auckland). 1 A band discoursed . jazz and other music during the dinner, and most pleasing vocal items were contributed liv Messrs Reginald Blow and Austin Blackie.