ROTARY GOVERNOR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 November 1939, Page 7

ROTARY GOVERNOR

VISIT TO MASTERTON CLUB YESTERDAY. RECEPTION TO KING & QUEEN AT WASHINGTON. Mr D. A. Ewen, of Wellington, a director of Messrs Sargood, Son and Ewen, Ltd. and District Governor of Rotary New Zealand, paid an official visit to the Masterton Rotary Club yesterday. Mr Ewen, who had attended the Rotary International Conference in the United States, spoke most interestingly of his visit to Rotary headquarters at Chicago and of his journey through the United States. He was very fortunate that his visit to Washington, although arranged some months beforehand, coincided with the visit of the King and Queen to White House. Mr Ewen, who saw the arrival of their Majesties at the Capitol steps, was very much impressed with the wonderfully enthusiastic reception which they received. The broad steps and the beautiful Capitol building made an imposing setting. Mr Ewen went on to state that the visit of their Majesties had had a wonderful effect in the United States. One of the stories current concerned an outback Senator who had been only lukewarm towards the British Empire but in consequence of the visit of the King and Queen had been entirely won over and on meeting his Majesty said: "Well. King, you sure are a good Queen picker." Mr Ewen described the secretariat

work done at the headquarters of Rotary International and indicated what Rotary endeavoured to do in a small way throughout the world. He quoted the case of the foundation of a Rotary Club in Jerusalem, where the different factions had never been able to be brought to gether. The visiting delegates had invited fifteen prominent men to a gathering, without reference to race or religion and without advising them of who the other members of the assembly would be. After the first preliminary uneasiness, the guests settled down and a Rotary Club was formed. At this Rotary Club there were at least 12 different nationalities represented and after men of six different religions sat down together at lunch. For a long time this was the only place in Jerusalem where all these factions could meet and members continued to come in spite of vigorous protests from co-religionists. Last evening, the District Governor met the Masterton Board of Management, when the work of the past year was reviewed and the present difficulties arising from the international situation were discussed.