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Accountants Awaken!

Accy. Seminar: Stepping Out ?

Once a year the Accountancy Department really gets going in a joint academic exercise. This year will see the 23rd. advanced Accountancy seminar which will probably be more interesting than any previous seminar, in fact, having just read the papers to be presented at the seminar it will probably contain more of value to the Accountancy student in the short space of 24 hours than they would get in a full year's lectures. It is sad that the talent which abounds within the Department is only aired properly annually and for the rest of the year students and lecturers are together confined within the drab and dull areas of course prescriptions, especially at undergraduate level.

The seminar is open to anyone, and is of interest to all within the University, but is particularly aimed at second, third and fourth year Accountancy students.

Mr F. Turnovsky, Chairman Development Finance Corporation on "Investment Risk-Taking for Business Progress." This is a paper which outlines the DFC's position on various areas related to the topic. It is refreshing to note that the paper is entirely free of accounting bias and gives insight into what must be one of the most powerful investment organisations in the country and its criteria and methods for allocating investment finances.

The papers presented by Prof. J.B. Tabb of Auckland University and Prof. L.F. Jackson, Economics Department, VUW, may be considered under the same category examining the technical aspects of risk analysis and risk prediction. Even for those who are less mathematically or statistically inclined these papers cover extremely well many of the complex factors ever present in business decisions involving risk. Areas are opened up for people with more ability to follow through to their own level.

Mr CM. Arthur of VUW Accy Dept will present a paper on risk oriented Tax incentives which discusses the significance that taxation plays in the development of contemporary society. To many people companies income tax is an unwelcome impost which taxpayers suffer even though the levy has desireable social ends, in relieving social distress and promoting social services such as education, health, housing and the SIS. But tax policy also plays a significant role in promoting economic development and social advancement through tax incentives to cushion business risk in ventures to exploit natural resources. Tax concessions offered to the promoter of "economic growth" are not always beneficial to the community or socially desireable.

Prof. Young of VUW Industrial Relations Centre has written a paper entitled "Industrial Relations at Risk? - A need for innovation." The paper examines the business risk factor in the context of industrial relations. Industrial relations have been frequently in the news of late and many New Zealanders are under the impression that we are relatively a strikebound country. There are some illuminating statistics in Prof Young's paper which show that industrial relations in New Zealand are far less of a risk-contributing factor than some people would like us to believe.

Mr S.J. Sawicki's article and its implications are separately outlined.

There will also be a forum session with a panel of lead-in speakers, who will hopefully provoke discussion in several parts of this broad topic. Any person interested in attending contact either the Convenor of the Seminar or Secretary of Accountancy Department, both at 20 Kelburn Parade.