ROTARY’S WORK

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21363, 6 March 1941, Page 10

ROTARY’S WORK

SPREADING GOODWILL LETTERS EXCHANGED Is there any good in Rotary? That question was answered in a very interesting way at the Hamilton Rotary Club’s special meeting at the Centreway Tearooms last evening, when Auckland and Hamilton Rotarians were the special guests. The speaker was Rotarian Stanley Read, of A tickland, and he took as his subject “The Fourth Object of Rotary in War.” Mr Read is chairman of the Auckland Club’s international service committee, and he told how that section has contacted scores of Rotary Clubs and members all over Great Britain and in America, fostering a better understanding, goodwill and friendship in international relationships. Mr Read mentioned that there are, or were, a few months ago, 5066 Rotary clubs all over the world, and he proceeded to deal briefly with conditions in the warring countries of Europe, the occupied or dominated countries, and such others as the South American States, U.S.A., and the Far Eastern countries. The most interesting part of his address was the reference to contacts made with people in Englana and America, and the heartening infle ences for goodwill where previously suspicion and, at times, stout opposition were expressed. Scores of letters were sent out, and extracts from the replies were quoted by Mr Read as evider.ee of the trend of opinion. Those from some of the ravaged areas in England were especially interesting, ar.d most of them indicated a bright outlook and grim determination to withstand ail Hitlur’s efforts to break their morale. One of the most striking was reference to a newsvendor’s kerbstone at the time the two Italian warships fled from smaller British units. It read: “ Italy Wins the Boat Race! ” Rotarian Frank Winstone, president of Auckland Rotary Club, presided at the function, by special invitation, and the attendance exceeded 70.