MOTTO OF ROTARY

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1929, Page 2

MOTTO OF ROTARY

■' SIR ALEXANDER ROBERTS’S .SUGGESTION. : “I think it would be a very good thing if the motto of the Rotary were changed to just the word ‘ service.’ In its present form it is a little top-heavy, and ponderous,” said Sir Alexander Roberts, district governor for New Zealand, in addressing the Auckland Rotary Club. Sir Alexander’s suggestion really was that Rotary should adopt the same motto as Toe H, which, he said, was really a junior Rotary movement. Candidates for admission to Toe H were required to answer a catechism, .and one of the questions was: “What is service?” The reply was: “The rent we pay for a room on earth.” “It seems to me that this applies equally to Rotary,” said Sir Alexander. “ Looking round upon you, I must say that you all look as if you had fairly comfortable and happy lives. There are thousands who do not. Surely in our Rotary movement we should be ready to pay a.little rent for the comfortable, conditions under which we live and to do something for those less fortunate than ourselves.” • Another suggestion -made by Sir Alexander Roberts was that Rotary clubs should make special efforts to promote a better understanding between town and country.. In his view, the relations between .the two sections of the community were not so good as they should be. There was in some degree a feeling of distrust and suspicion between the man on the land and the townsman, engaged in commercial or industrial pursuits.