N.Z. SOCIETY OF ACCOUNTANTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 1, 26 September 1918, Page 6

N.Z. SOCIETY OF ACCOUNTANTS

Sir,—ln your issue of September 23 Mr. Ernest Hunt takes nio to task in. connection with a portion of my-re-marks made at the last meeting of the council of tho Wellington Central. Chamber of Commerce. The .subject under, discussion was, a remit from the Napier Chamber of Commerce, suggesting that , tho Central Chamber should combine with them in devising some means of rendering practical help ta business moil 'of the Second Division who are being called up, and they gave the following case as an example for the need of such assistance by the business men of the Dominion: — "For instance, two ineu in Class 0 are called in one ballot, both are'in business on their own account in thesame town, and' in the same line. On<J is passed fit and has to sacrifice hi* business; the other is turned down and gets the benefit of the other man's business, when the latter leaves for camp." The Central Chamber, after discussing this remit, thought it good enough to follow up, and it was resolved at a, meeting, from which I was absent, to write the council of the N.Z.S.A.. asking for a conference with them on the subject, as some of tho members felt, a consultation with such recognised experts in : business methods and financewould be helpful in framing a definite, and practical policy to help .their un* fortunate fellow citizens wlio were going forward to do duty for us at the front. On August 23 the council of the N.Z.S.A. was written to, and on September 11 their reply was received as follows:— . ■ "Your letter of August.23 was con» sidered at a meeting of my council, held just recently. I ."Protection of Business—ln view of the regulations gazetted by the Government, since the receipt of yourletter, particularly dealing with tho matter referred to, it was decided that no further action should be taken. When this reply was considered by the council 'of the Central Chamber strong exception was taken to it, as it was felt that the work being of wen important and vital a character, was such that the Society of Accountants ought to have taken up enthusiastically. At the recent annual meeting of the society the president of the N Z.S.A. urged upon' all members the necessity of doing what they could m this time of stress, so that the society might'be made a greater power in the business community. Almost immediately the council of the N.Z.S.A. were given a splendid opportunity pf_ acting on the advice of the president—in fact, "a' iheaven-seni fchance , "—of doing something in the public interest, and yet, as will be seen by their reply, they refused to take any action. ' Several of the speakers commented freely on the attitude of tho council, as evidenced: by their reply, and I 'then stated that "I wns not at all -surprised nfc the reply of the council, for as a member' of the N.Z.S.A. I had never known, ,in matters such as were under discussion, where the public interests were concerned, the council of the .N.Z.S.A. to do anything to justify their existence, and that in my opinion in such matters the society was 'as dead as a door nail, , .and the primary canse of this state of affairs, I believed to be, because the society was run by a clique." ■ Mr. Ernest Hunt's appeal to me as the chairman of the Education Board is puro camouflage, as he ie well aware that the N.Z.S.A'.' of Accountants have never at any time done anything for the schools under the jurisdiction of tho board. Mr. Hunt refers to a portion of my remarks mads at, the annual meeting in August, 1916,, but in order to suit his case he Ingomously puts it as if this was all I snid. In tins connection it may interest' your readers to know that the Year Book for the vear ended August, 1916, containing the official full report of the annual meetingi has not yet made its appearance, which is typical of the inactivity, of the society. _ It so happens that Mr Ernest Hunt is, amongst other things, also secretary to the Wellington branch of the, society, which' has a mcely-equrpped office in the city, Incurring annuallv a considerable amount of expense, and J should like Mr. Hunt to tell the pub he how many years have passed since the Wellington branch have had a meeting Surely this is proof positive that the) society is in. a state of coma. 1 Like Mr. Hunt, I also could throw a good deal more light on this ar.d other matters connected wtih the, society, but I shall content myself, byleaving the public to judge if my remarks were justified or not, mid I sincerely trust that as the cutcow of this incident the council will realise it has n public duty to perform, particularly in these, stirnhg times, if it Is going to justify its existence.—l am,. etc-) . .'■ ■ THOS. FOBSVTH. Wellington, September 25.