COSTING SYSTEMS AND LOCAL POLITICS.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 96, 20 October 1926, Page 11

COSTING SYSTEMS AND LOCAL POLITICS.

The Year Book (1926-27) of the New Zealand Society of Accountants should have a place on the business man's book-shelf. Business leans on accountancy, and business men should know what accountants are doing. As the retiring president of the society, Mr. R. Davis, puts it in this volume: "A careful trader to-day seldom enters upon a fresh undertaking without first consulting his accountant or auditor, and discussing the practicability and possibilities of his scheme with them as he would with his banker. . . It would be the height of folly for any manufacturer to hope to carry on his business without a costing system; and there again the accountant comes into prominence." Unfortunately, adds Mr. Davis, accountants, irai mersed in their own business, do not sufficiently give their services as members of I local bodies. "The momentous economic questions of to-day call for expert knowledge. Take as an example the shipping question. Does it not seem economically unsound that produce ships should travel round our coasts picking up cargoes and wasting time and money, -when in most instances the produce could be railed to one of the four centres for shipment and dispatched in quick time? This fact would put our railways on a better footing and get so many more trips In per annum by the steamers—to use an expression that we are all so familiar with, would 'reduce overhead expenses.' It Is merely a question of costing in the Interests of those concerned and the saving of wastage. We, of course, are not a political body, but as individuals and citizens of this Dominion should we not get into these arguments?' We are doing it every day for our clients; why not for the nation?" Probably if the author of these remarks went to New Plymouth and a. few other secondary ports he would easily get into these arguments.