ACCOUNTANTS ACT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 650, 29 October 1909, Page 5

ACCOUNTANTS ACT.

ANOMALIES' POINTED OCT. ' ' SECRECY OF THE BALLOT. ' A large deputation of members of the Accountants' Socicty was introduced to the Minister for Justice (the Hon. Dr.. Findlay) by, Mr. A. 'L, Herdm&n, M.P., yesterday; , _ Mr. Hcrdmari said tho deputation wished to bring under the Minister's notice an objection to tho system -of voting instituted by tho board which had been set up under the Accountants Act.; 'The'board had to take the necessary; steps for the election of a .council, 'l'hey had prepared a ballot' paper which had been distributed among members of'the society, and which was objected to on the ground that it did not preservo the secrecy of the ballot. Mr. Herdmari also stated, as an illustration of the difficulties of the position, that Mr. Peter Heyes, a member of the, board, was' also a candidate for, the Council. : Mr. Barton said the chief point was that the well-known principle of tho secrecy, of the ballot Bhould be maintained. If the voting paper-was issued in the 1 present form a largo proportion of votes would not .be cast. Members were hot prepared to submit an open voting paper with their ; names attached. ' As a matter of principle,.also, objection was taken to the fact that one of the candidates should also be one of the scrutineers.. This might be a delicate matter to. mention,, but they felt that it was not a delicate'matter, seeing that the candidate was Mr. Peter Heyes, who they know would not act dishonekly. At. the same time, they did-not think the principle a right one. It seemed to him only fair, to Mr. Heyes that they should remove him from that: anomalous position. He had put forward this view at the request of a large number of candidates. Mr. Barton submitted an alternative ballot paper devised .so as to-ensure secreeyV ' Mr. C. P. Ponies endorsed what had been said.-." • : < ' - ■ Dr. • Findlay said he-quite appreciated the desirability of providing secrecy so far as it conld be provided legally and practically. He had had no opportunity -of looking into the statute, ,but if the suggestion made could be conveniently and legally carried out, ho had no doubt'the board would see its way to comply with the request. : With regard to Mr. Heyes, ho had no doubt that lie would abstain in any ca;i' from taking;part in. the: count,. because the remaining members of the board would bo a quorum, so that .that difficulty .'would'bo obviated. He would look into the statute '■ and bring tho matter before the board.