ROTARY CONFERENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17986, 3 April 1930, Page 8

ROTARY CONFERENCE.

AT THE NATIONAL PARK. MANY PROBLEMS TO FACE. TO DEVELOP UNDERSTANDING. (Ey Telegraph.—Press Association.) THE CHATEAU, Thursday. The eighth conference of the Rotary clubs of New Zealand has opened, Mr C. J. Ronaldson, District Governor presiding. Delegates number 111, with the same number of ladies. When all have arrived the total will be 250. The president, Mr Stanley Reid, in extending a welcome, said Rotary did not, and would not, take part in politics, but with government in business. It was difficult to say where government ended and where business and community service ended. Matters requiring urgent consideration were unemployment, support for New Zealand and British industries, heavy Are losses, and the credit system. These were their problems, as well as of those representing them in the Government. Rotarians should take them up and realise that all business and professional men in New Zealand must be on the job. Mr H. J. Guthrie, Dunedin president, in responding on behalf of visiting Rotarians, emphasised the value of the opportunities given by Rotary for the development of international understanding and for good fellowship. After the roll-call it was resolved unanimously to forward a welcome to Their Excellencies Lord and Lady Bledisloe, expressing the hope that opportunities would present themselves to co-operate with Their Excellencies, as had been the case in the past. An Enthusiastic Reception. The district governor, on rising to address the conference, had an enthusiastic reception. He referred to the advantages of meeting under one roof, as it gave an opportunity to make friends more rapidly. The number of clubs was 23. Steps had been taken to strengthen smaller clubs and it was hoped to establish clubs at Ashburton and Greymouth. _ The total membership was 1097, an increase of 50. The spirit of Rotary is the spirit of universal fellowship and goodwill, working through existing organisations. They did not want any halo of their own, but were content to stir up the community to a sense of its obligations and carry out the duties imposed by citizenship. Rotary assisted organisations in aiding crippled children and the blind andrin providing Christmas hampers, wood and coal during the winter months to the needy. The chief feature of the work during the year had been under the heading of internal service. Rotary is endeavouring to develop what is known as the international mind. The world is becoming so small that it is impossible for the nations to view themselves as units, but as part and parcel of a .great brotherhood of nations. Greetings From Overseas. Greetings were read from overseas Rotarians. Mr. E. Stoddard, of San Francisco, in replying, said the cordiality extended had been nothing less than dynamic. International understanding could be helped a lot by Rotary. Misinformation concerning peoples and their affairs, was often spread by those who got their information from sources careless of facts or had not delved deeply into the complexity of national life. They had been warned that in Australia and New Zealand they would hear views expressed about America that would probably wound their feelings but they found nothing of the sort' in the realm of Rotary. ‘They had enjoyed discussions, but always in an atmopshere of endeavour to promote knowledge and understanding. The greatest amount of discussion was excited by tariff inequality, the balance of trade and prohibition, but the growth of the Rotary spirit would in time compose these misunderstandings.