ROTRY'S JOB.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 49, 27 February 1935, Page 5

ROTRY'S JOB.

TO HELP FRIENDSHIP. ANNUAL CONFERENCE BEGUN. INCREASED MEMBERSHIP. I I (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) TIMARU, this day. I At the opening of the Rotary Conference this morning the district governor, Mr. J. M. A. Ilott, extended a cordial welcome to delegates from all parts of the Dominion. He said that during the year the membership of the 22 clubs had increased from 1131 to 1103.

"Rotary has not discovered any new formulas'or new principles or ideals for governing men and their relations —its dominant ideals and principles, have animated men of good will since the beginning of time—but it has given them a new setting," lie said. Many Rotarians thought that the famous formula setting out the objects of Rotary should be restated, and during the conference the matter would be Considered. The conference would also consider the needs of crippled children.

The district governor proceeded to give an account of bis stewardship, stating that his long illnese had prevented him from carrying out his many I plans and resolutions. He had found it possible to visit only a limited number of clubs, but he hoped to visit most of the others before the new district governor returned from the international ! conference. He looked back with ! pleasure on the great experience he had J had in meeting Rotary executives at the international assembly at Vancouver. He was delighted to find that Xew Zealand stood so high in the Rotary world, and in the esteem of officers. His visit had brought him many new friends, and had extended his view of Notary's possibilities internationally. Membership of i 55,000. The speaker paid a tribute to the assistance given by Mr. Cecil Buchanan, district governor,'of South Africa, officers of the Rotary International, and

district liotarians, during his illness. He aleo referred to the loss suffered by Rotary in New Zealand through the deaths of Sir George Fowlds, the first honorary commissioner and district governor, and Mr. T. C. List, whose memories would long remain.

Referring to the 'progress of the Eotarv International, Mr. Ilott said that in July, 1924, it had 153,173 members, to-day the membership was 153,000. There were 3720 clubs, of which 2577 were in North America.

The speaker then gave a resume of the, operations of the past year, and expressed pleasure at the growth of intercity meetings. "It is but 15 years on June 7 since Mr. Layton Ralston launched the first Rotary Club in New Zealand, and a day later the late Mr. Jim Davidson inaugurated the Auckland Club." he said. "From its foundation Rotary has grown. The willingness of members to help has, been appreciated. Let this be our aim, and our determination in the years to come. We can only get out'of Rotary what we put into it. Rotary's job is not to reform the world, not to solve the social problems, but to create friendship and the. spirit of good will, and to help all those of those organisations that have that

end in view."