ROTARY'S CRISIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 238, 7 October 1940, Page 8

ROTARY'S CRISIS.

EFFECTS OF IDEOLOGIES. ADDRESS BY MR. D. A. EWEN. That this is a time of crisis for Rotary was pointed out by Mr. David A. Ewen, who is serving his second term of office as governor of the 53rd District of the Rotary International, in the course of a speech he gave at the Auckland Rotary Club luncheon at Milne and Choyce's reception rooms to-day.

In greeting the guest from Dunedin the president, Mr. F. Winstone, referred to the great .work that had been done for New Zealand . and international Rotary by Mr. Ewen.

Dealing with the growth of the movement and the adventurous. life of its founder, Paul Harris, Mr. Ewen said that the object was to promote friendliness and club advancement, to advance vocational Service, to assist with community service.and to extend those principles to the international sphere. They had arisen in that order as the movement had developed.

"Rotary exists to promote friendship between men —in a particular country and between countries," said the speaker. "It does not attempt to do so between Governments."'

Referring to the number of Rotary clubs that had been disbanded as a result of the invasion of European countries by the Nazis, Mr. Ewen added that, irrespective of what was happening in those countries to-day. Rotary would have a place wherever liberty existed or attempted to grow. Its ideals were so unselfish, so practical and filled such a need that they must prosper.

When the war came to an end the problems of reconstruction would have to be faced in • a period of social unrest and it would be the privilege of Rotary to assist in the creation of the new social order that would arise.