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LONGMANS, GREEN & CO., LTD.

London, Toronto, Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras
LEONARD SCOTT PUBLICATION COMPANY, New York

1926

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The

Edinburgh Review

JANUARY, 1926

No. 495

PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY

1. Seventh Report of the Select Committee on National Expenditure. House of Commons Paper, No. 98. 1918.

2. Report of the Committee on Administration of and Accounting for Army Expenditure. Cmd. 2073.

3. The Zealots: Over Regulation and its Bearing on National Waste. By LIEUT.-COL. SIR JOHN KEANE, D.S.O. John Murray. 1921. 4. Parliament and the Taxpayer. By E. H. Davenport.

and Sons.

Skeffington

DURING the past few weeks there has been considerable

correspondence in the Press and some revival of interest in the subject of public accountancy. It is to be feared, however, that the interest is confined to a limited section of the public, principally to those who understand the technique of accounts, or to those within the public service who are liable to be affected. by any proposed changes. The general public, regrettably, takes little interest in the matter, regarding all accounts as dry and purposeless, involving much weariness of the flesh and producing no practical results. It will be my aim to try and show that this popular view is mistaken, that accounts have a close bearing on human conduct in all occupations where money is spent and value is sought for such expenditure. A very little simple technique, and a fair store of common sense and understanding, are alone requisite to follow the reasoning which will be offered to reach this conclusion.

Accountancy may be defined as the art of expressing economic results in the terms of a common denominator of money. Much All rights reserved.

VOL. 243. NO. 495.

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