THE ACCOUNTANCY ACT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14499, 16 April 1909, Page 8

THE ACCOUNTANCY ACT.

ADVICE TO ASPIRING ACCOUNTANTS. At the annual meeting of the Dunedin Accountant Students' Society last evcmntc the retiring President (Mr James Browi* JM.A.N./C.) took the opportunity in formally moving the adoption of the annual report and balance elioet to review the position of the society and its influence upon Hie future of accountancy. While it watt Unite true that the work of the society had been very efficient- and most beneficial to those Wjio attended, he must, he said, confers to ii strong feeling of disappointment at. the indifference and apathy which had been displayed by a large section of the membership in their slack attendance upon the excellent series of lectures aj-ranged last yoav on topical matters. This indifference at the present moment was most unaccountable io him, more especially when he thought of the existing circumstances in connection with accountaacy matters throughout New Zealand. The field of accountancy New Zealand presented was a most encouraging one for all aspiring accountants. As they knew, a new accountant society had been created bv tiio enactment of special legislation, and" during the last t.irce months application for enrolment under that legislation for membership in rbat society had come from overy part of New Zealand, and had been lodged witli the Registration Hoard in Wellington. Now, it was quite certain that when the legist-ration was complete the roll would include quite a number of men who could not possibly have gained entrance into an accountancy society by examinat ion. But. that was a feature common to all new societies, and had been recognised by the accountants when advocating parliamentary recognition of accountancy. But (his did not affect the present students of accountancy, \shose only door of entrance was the door of examination. With regard to the new society, one of the advantages which would accrue from its establishment was that there would be no possibility of the multiplication oi accountancy institutes or societies. It would, consequently, prevent the redundancy of designations which had proved to be so confusing and so unsatisfactory in the Old Country. The fact of this new society having parliamentary recognition would make it the one rceognieed institution of the Dominion, and as such it would have a wider sphere, and would exercise a far greater influence in accountancy matters than any private institution could possibly do. He believed, also, it would not bo long 1 before accountancy as a profession would

be placed on the same footing as tho profession, and that in tho tuuire lcg!r:-a----11011 would be provided to limit the audit ,of public companies to members of the society. 111 view of future prospects, then, he coultl not help expressing his surprise at tho indilfereiiee being displayed by students of accountancy to the efforts made by the society to assist them to pass the - examinations they would be confronted with. He felt it strongly, and could not make it cut. The society had no other object than to forward the progress of its members, but in view of the lack of interest displayed that object was far from being attained. He earnestly appealed to them all-members present as well as members absent—to use their influence to forward tlie aims of tho society, and put it in the position it should be in. Mr Rogers seconded the adoption of the report, saving - (.hoy coul<l try to help I people, but unless people wanted to be their efforts wore useless, the election of odicoio resulted as follows: President, Mr N, Moore; vice-presi-dents—Messrs A. D. Sponce, F. A. Webb, J. T. Martin, E S. Minims. P. Hercus; . committee-Messrs W. D. Anderson, A. 11. j L raw ley, ,1. Mconey, D. 11. Rogers, A. ] Milne; lion, auditor, Mr R. D. Nimtno (re-elected); lion, treasurer, Mr E. Tarn--1 blyn.