“TENDENCY TO CRAM”

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12075, 28 February 1925, Page 4

“TENDENCY TO CRAM”

PROFESSIONAL EXAMS. ACCOUNTANTS URGE NEED OF PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE. LEGISLATION POSSIBLE. At the convention of the New Zealand Society of Accountants yesterday, There was discussed a proposal that the council of the society should take steps to amend the Accountants Act to provide that no person should be admitted to the society until he or she had had practical experience. Mr F. G. Dunn (Christchurch), in moving a resolution to that effect, complained that there was a tendency to cram for examinations, and that too much value Was being placed on examination results. He regarded cramming as a danger to the professional life of the country, and he did not think it right that having passed the qualifying examination successful students should be permitted to start in practice without practical experience. The president (Mr W. E. Best) said that the proposal would involve an amendment to the Act, and he did not think it advisable to place the matter on the floor of the House. “If you put it on the floor of the House,” he said, “we are assured that the door to the profession will be opened, and that we do not want to happen.” After discussion the mover agreed to add to his motion a proviso that action by the council he deferred until the time was considered ripe for amendments to be effected to the Act.