REGISTERED ACCOUNTANTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 869, 16 July 1910, Page 3

REGISTERED ACCOUNTANTS.

Sir, —It is the intention of the council of tho New ZeaJaud Society of Accountants to get an Act passed by Parliament to prevent tho auditing of any company's books being done by registered accountants. , I hope that Sir Joseph Ward aud his advisers will not allow such an Act to bo passed, and an injustice be done to tho registered accountants. There is no doubt it was not' tho intention of Parliament when tho first Act was brought into force, to mako any distinction at all. Why alter the law now? 'There is at .the present time no guarantee that some of tho public accountants who cannot bo provented from acting as such are in any way qualified as many registered accountants. Is it not reasonable to suppose that any company of any "magnitude cannot bo capablo of selecting suitable and callable auditors without this restriction, or that public accountants will not get due consideration of their merits at the hands of the companies. It must be remembered that members of the two institutions have sacrificed a good deal for the advancement of their profession, and they should not be further penalised, especially in country, places, where their known ability is recognised and desired to bo availed ■of. No doubt it is.the greed of tho practising accountants who have caused this, alteration to be sought. Tho registered accountants' are the majority. Why should not the majority rule, and not be put upon by thoso who bavo practised and who are selfish onough to endeavour to have things all their own way. The registered ac-> couiitants throughout Now Zealand should unite and look after their interests, and not be kept down by a few practised, or so-called public accountants. Then as regards the distinction of fellow registered accountant, and associate registered accountant by. the age. Thero are many under the ago of thirty years who are better qualified to audit the books of a company than h -great many who are over that ago. There should bo no distinction (as was first intended by the framers of the Aot) except that those who wisli to practise on their own account should be compelled to pay a higher fee than thoso who aro registered, but hold other positions. Ijot us hopo that the registered accountants will unite and put forward a representative on the Registration .will jjledge himself at all_

costs to uphold tho interests of those' whom ho represents. '• Let us also hope that Parliament will take a moro enlightened view of the position, an\ prevent any Act being passed that will in any way interfere with tlio liberty of the registered accountant. —I am, eta., REGISTERED ACCOUNTANT.' Wanganui, July 11,' 1910. .