IMPORTANT PART

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27197, 28 September 1949, Page 6

IMPORTANT PART

PLACE OF SECRETARIES IN INDUSTRY

INSTITUTE MEETING

“The trend is more and more towards specialisation, and though this may be inevitable in most fields the secretary cannot afford to specialise because his knowledge must embrace all activities.” This comment was made by Mr E. H. Bell, president of the New Zealand Institute of Secretaries, at the annual meeting held last night in the National Party rooms. “ Specialisation.” he added “ can only lead to one result—the loss of that breadth of vision which is so essential

in the business life of to-day.” Young men had wonderful opportunities of bringing new impulses into business life.

Mr Bell pointed out that there were many changes taking place in the business life of the community. Price control and other controls from the outside were always irksome and many thought they were mistaken. If controls were -considered necessary in any industry, he continued, then it was for the people in the industry concerned to do the work and arrange to control the controls.

Mr Bell stated earlier in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet that the year just passed had been the most momentous in the history of the institute. He recalled that the institute had just been fairly launched when the war came and it lost those who were to be the first examined members.

Dealing with the number of candididates who had sat for the institute’s examinations throughout the years, Mr Bell emphasised that its figures had been maintained on the 400 mark for some years. In 1939 there had been 119 students sitting for the examinations and they fell away badly during the war years. In 1946, 400 students sat the examination, this large number being due to so mar.y demobilised men sitting. This year there would be about the same number of students. It was gratifying to know that 6ver 99 per cent, of successful students applied for membership of the institute. The speaker went on to survey the membership figures, pointing out that in 1932 it stood at 259. the total for this year being 891, including 201 licentiates. Although there had been

such a substantial gain in membership the speaker regretted that there was not the same enthusiasm as in the old days. The motion was seconded by Mr A. G. Wilson, vice-president, of Auckland, who eulogised the work done by the registrar. Mr D. R. Sheath, of Auckland, in arranging the examinations. The delegates were welcomed by Mr C. G. Lucas, of Dunedin, who pointed out that it was many years since an annual mee 4 ins of the institute had been held here;. Election of Councillors

The election of covnciPors resulted— Messrs E. H. Bell (Wellington), A. GWilson (Auckland), H. R. Bennington (Canterbury), G. N. Boulton (Central Districts), L. D. Mclvor (Otago) and B. Noble (Southland). Messrs Maben and Porter (Auckland) were reelected auditors. . '