ROTARY LEADER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 163, 12 July 1935, Page 5

ROTARY LEADER.

DR. FOSTER RETURNS.

CONFERENCE IN MEXICO CITY.

LAVISH HOSPITALITY.

"To give you some idea of the extent of the international Rotary conference I need only say that, in oder to meet the position the Mexicans built a city, Pullman city. They had to do it because the hotel accommodation was totally inadequate, and I should say that of the 5500 Rotarians who were attending about 3000 had to live on the trains," said Dr. Stanley Foster, of Christchurch, district governor of Rotary in New Zealand, who returned by the Monterey this morning.

"It is somewhat difficult to say anything .about the conditions generally in Mexico, as the people talk Spanish, and the newspapers are printed in Spanish, although, one newspaper included a page daily in English, and devoted it to Rotary matters during the conference. "Rotary is making progress everywhere. That was made evident at the conference, where the 80th Rotary district was constituted, the district being Siam. Prince Pura Chatra, the Rotary district governor for Siam, is a brother of the lately deposed king. A Wonderful Pageant. "The conference occupied a week, and it was indeed a b'usy one. The various groups held meetings to go into various matters prior to their being brought before the conference, when they were freely discussed. I cannot say that anything of outstanding importance was decided. We were just one huge family, and the hospitality showered upon us in Mexico was wonderful. Everything possible was done for our entertainment. Among the big things done was the staging of a pageant which co\ered the history of Mexico from the arrival of- Cortez 'right through the revolutions. It was truly wonderful. Again, 011 a large lake, on barges built foi* the occa-

sion, groups of Indians representing the different tribes and their life's changes right up to the present were presented. "At the conference pretty we'll all countries were represented," said Dr. Foster. "It was really an international 'get together,' and I think the reason for the conference being held in Mexico was to convey a friendly gesture 011 the j part of Mexico to the other countries of the world. Mexico to-day is a modern city, but the Indians are definitely poor. History is preserved, and we travelled 011 the road that Cort.ez_ and his Spaniards went over in 1521. Every little village has its cathedral, some of them hundreds of years old." Touching progress made in the medical world. Dr. Foster said that while he was in America the American Medical Association had published a report of a new diagnosis reaction for cancer, by which it was claimed medical men could say definitely whether a pai ient had cancer 01* not. r lhe diagnosis Mas made by injecting a fluid under the skin. "I was not present at the meeting of the association.' he added, "and am only telling you what I read. I did not get any authoritative information 011 the claim." Pessimism In U.S.A. .... Asked concerning the general opinion of"conditions in the United States, Dr. Foster said that business people were very pessimistic regarding President Roosevelt's lavish spending. Most, of them -were inclined to think his expenditure wildly extravagant, and that it would lead them all into trouble. All professional and business men were unhappy about the trend of American legislation and the schemes launched for improving conditions. Dr. Foster, who is accompanied by his wife and daughter, leaves for Wliangarei to-morrow and will address the Rotary Club there. On Monday lie will be back in Auckland and he will address the members of the Auckland Rotary Club at a luncheon 011 Tuesday.